Opinion

‘Donroe’ Doctrine and conservative victories squeeze cartels in Latin America

With Cuba faltering and Colombia shifting course, drug trafficking networks pivot to Europe and drones

By Chuck DeVore Fox News

Published October 10, 2026 7:00am EDT

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U.S. military strike kills 4 aboard suspected drug vessel in Caribbean

The U.S. military said it killed four people in a strike on another vessel in the Caribbean carrying alleged narco-traffickers. (U.S. Southern Command)

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The cartels are losing political cover, and they know it.

The Trump administration has treated the Western Hemisphere as a security problem — rather than allow diplomatic courtesy to block needed action. Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro is in U.S. custody. Colombia elected Abelardo de la Espriella, who ran against negotiations with armed groups and won. Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay and others have aligned with Washington’s enforcement policies. The Shield of the Americas coalition now coordinates intelligence and operations against cartel networks – but with a handful of exceptions: Mexico, Brazil, Cuba and Nicaragua.

That is the Donroe Doctrine in practice: American predominance in the hemisphere, applied to migration, Chinese footholds and the drug trade.

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Critically, this is a major shift in the operating environments for the Sinaloa cartel, CJNG (Jalisco New Generation Cartel), and the Colombian and Venezuelan networks that fed them.

A soldier stands guard by a charred vehicle after it was set on fire in Cointzio, Michoacán state, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, after the death of the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho." (AP Photo/Armando........

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