U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signed a deal with military officials from 19 Latin American and Caribbean countries ideologically aligned with President Donald Trump's administration to fight narcoterrorist groups, Reuters reported March 5.

The joint declaration notes that Washington's relations with its neighbors will respect sovereignty to "promote peace through strength". Among the countries that joined the U.S.-led initiative are Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Honduras and the Dominican Republic. Representatives from Brazil, Colombia and Mexico — led by left-wingers — were not part of the agreement. The meeting occurred two days before Trump hosts presidents from these same countries at the "Shield of the Americas" summit in Florida. It also came six months after the U.S. government started striking drug-trafficking boats in the region. In December, the Trump administration published its national security strategy, highlighting the Western Hemisphere as its zone of influence.