Miami: US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday the launch of the "Shield of the Americas," an alliance designed to enhance coordination and cooperation between the United States and Central and Latin American countries to address drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations that have been labeled as terrorist organizations by the Trump administration.

According to Qatar News Agency, the announcement was made during a summit in Miami, Florida, attended by the presidents of several Latin American countries including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago. Officials from other nations were also present at the event.

During the summit, leaders signed a declaration to launch the alliance and appointed Kristi Noem as its special envoy. Noem previously served as Secretary of Homeland Security before her dismissal last week.

President Trump emphasized that drug cartels are a significant reason for increased US involvement in the region. The alliance aims to dismantle criminal organizations and improve stability in partner countries. He also proposed the use of military force against cartels, with potential US support through missile strikes, drawing parallels to the strategy used against ISIS in the Middle East.

The US President stated that the alliance will operate within the framework of applicable laws to strip gangs of control over territory, funding, and resources necessary for their violent activities. The plan includes training and deploying the military forces of partner countries to ensure maximum combat readiness and prevent the spread of violence and organized intimidation.

Trump further mentioned that the alliance will address external threats, with a particular focus on the Panama Canal. He noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is negotiating an agreement with Cuba to prevent any hostile foreign influence from gaining a foothold in the region.