We’re with Natalia Molano, Spanish-language spokesperson for the Department of State.
Natalia, today President
Donald Trump is holding the first meeting of a new initiative here in Miami with Latin American leaders, the Shield of the Americas.
He has made clear his desire to exert control over the American continent and to wield influence in the region.
What are the objectives of this new alliance?
Well, this alliance that President Trump announced today as a new organization has very specific objectives, under the framework of the Don Roe doctrine, which
is aimed at re-establishing U.S. Preeminence in our neighborhood –
that is, our region – and the very particular objectives are in the areas of
security,
stability and prosperity.
She says he is very pleased with Delcy Rodríguez,
but she is not here.
Was she invited to this summit?
The countries that are here today were those invited by the White House, so
they are the ones who have been included.
What One can notice with these 12 countries is that it seems to align quite a bit
with the foreign visits
that Secretary Rubio has made to the region.
This is not a theoretical or symbolic summit; it’s a summit where countries that have already had successes
and achievements in the area of security and that already have agreements with the United States –
for deportations, for working
together against drugs – are gathered.
And what is the President’s plan for Cuba?
Today he said they are negotiating.
Is he talking
about the Secretary of State with Raúl Castro’s grandson?
What the President said today is nothing new
from what he has said in recent days.
President Trump said that Secretary Rubio is leading those
negotiations, those conversations, and it is in the interest of the Cuban regime to continue those negotiations.
We are not talking about who the counterparts are with whom they are speaking or the interlocutors with whom we are
talking; Secretary Rubio
has not shared that.
Possibly it is to avoid jeopardizing
those conversations and discussions that are taking place.
What the President did make clear is that
they should make the intelligent decision for their people.
And if that pressure doesn’t work, does the President contemplate
attacking Cuba?
I don’t think we can put words in President Trump’s mouth regarding what he may or may not consider doing in the
future.
I think Secretary Marco Rubio
analyzes these situations very well and he
will be the one to advise
President Trump at the White House on the steps to take.
MIAMI – President Donald Trump launched a new security initiative with a dozen Latin American leaders on Thursday, aiming to bolster regional cooperation against drug cartels. Dubbed “Shield of the Americas,” the alliance seeks to reassert U.S. Influence in the region, according to officials.
Speaking at a summit in Florida, Trump emphasized the need for a coordinated response to transnational criminal organizations. The initiative, built on the “Don Roe” doctrine, focuses on security, stability, and prosperity in the Americas, according to Natalia Molano, Spanish-language spokesperson for the Department of State.
While twelve nations participated in the summit, Mexico was notably absent. Yet, Molano clarified that the door remains open for Mexico’s inclusion in the future. “It’s not a closed door, it’s an opportunity to recognize countries that from the first day of the Trump administration have stepped up and aligned,” she stated. The alliance could expand depending on the results achieved, she added.
The U.S. Is likewise engaged in negotiations with Cuba, led by Secretary Marco Rubio, though details of those talks remain confidential. The administration has urged the Cuban regime to make “the intelligent decision for their people,” without ruling out further action. The development underscores growing regional tensions and the Trump administration’s assertive foreign policy approach.
The participating nations – Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago – have demonstrated prior success and existing agreements with the U.S. On issues like deportations and drug enforcement, officials said.
The U.S. Has denied reports of Mexico being excluded from the coalition, signaling a potential path for future collaboration.
Further details on the alliance and potential Mexican involvement can be found here.
Additional reporting on the “Shield of the Americas” initiative is available here.
