U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the formation of a new multinational military alliance aimed at dismantling powerful drug cartels operating across the Western Hemisphere.

Speaking at the inaugural Shield of the Americas Summit, Trump said the initiative would bring together governments and military forces from across the region to combat organised crime networks that have expanded their influence and capabilities in recent years.

“On this historic day, we come together to announce a brand new military coalition to eradicate the criminal cartels in our region,” Trump said.

The partnership will be known as the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, a joint security initiative designed to coordinate military, intelligence, and law enforcement efforts against transnational criminal organisations.

According to Trump, leaders from across the Americas attending the summit agreed that cartel violence and drug trafficking have reached levels that threaten regional stability and national security.

“Every leader here today is united in the conviction that we cannot and will not tolerate the lawlessness in our hemisphere any longer,” the president said.

Trump argued that many cartels have evolved into heavily armed groups with sophisticated operational capabilities comparable to those of national armed forces.

“The only way to defeat these enemies is by unleashing the power of our militaries,” he said. “We have to use our military. You have to use your military.”

The U.S. president noted that some cartels have developed advanced logistical systems, weapons networks, and command structures that allow them to challenge government authority in certain regions.

“In some cases, they say they’re more powerful than the military in the country,” Trump said.

Under the new coalition, the United States will provide intelligence support and military coordination while partner nations contribute forces and operational cooperation.

Trump emphasized that security forces in several countries are already collaborating with U.S. agencies and that the new alliance will deepen that cooperation.

“In many cases, our forces have already been working closely with yours,” he said. “The United States looks forward to deepening and expanding that cooperation in the months ahead.”

Officials said representatives from 17 countries have already joined the coalition initiative.

The administration also warned that cartel activity poses broader geopolitical risks beyond drug trafficking and organised crime.

“These brutal criminal organisations pose an unacceptable threat to national security,” Trump said, adding that criminal networks can create opportunities for foreign adversaries to expand influence in the region.

Transnational cartels operating across Latin America have long been linked to large-scale drug production, human trafficking, corruption, and violence, with their narcotics supply chains feeding major markets in North America.

U.S. officials said the new coalition aims to disrupt these networks and restore security across affected regions.