On Thursday, US officials, led by Hegset, met with representatives from several Latin American countries in Florida to discuss the US's security policy in the region. Hegset emphasized that things cannot continue as they have been, blaming the lack of action against organized crime and terrorist groups for instability in the Western Hemisphere. He insisted on the importance of collaboration from local governments to tackle the ongoing drug crisis effectively.

Hegset assured Latin American representatives of the United States' support in combating drug cartels, which are currently destabilizing the security situation in many countries within the region. He also warned that the US might take unilateral action if necessary, reflecting a shift towards a more aggressive US foreign policy stance. This development raises significant questions about how countries in the region will respond to increased pressure on their drug policies and the potential implications for their sovereign decision-making.

Notably absent from the meeting were representatives from Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil, countries whose left-leaning governments maintain strained relationships with President Trump. This omission could signal a broader divide in the approach to drug-related violence and organized crime in the Americas, particularly amidst a political landscape that sees the US increasingly at odds with several of its southern neighbors.