Rubio says that the Shield of the Americas could grow after elections in Latin America

Written by Alisson Ficher

Published on 08/06/2026 at 18:50

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Marco Rubio’s statement links the possible expansion of the Shield of the Americas to elections in Latin America, at a time when the United States seeks to expand regional alliances aimed at combating terrorism, drug trafficking, and transnational organized crime.

The United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, stated this Wednesday (03) that the Shield of the Americas may welcome new members in the coming months, as elections change the leadership of Latin American countries.

Launched in March by President Donald Trump, the political and military coalition brings together governments from the Western Hemisphere around a regional security agenda.

The statement was made during a hearing at the House Foreign Affairs Committee, according to a report published by the magazine Veja, in a session convened to present the State Department’s budget proposal for the fiscal year 2026-2027.

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Shield of the Americas brings together U.S. allied countries

Created to enhance regional cooperation in combating terrorism, drug trafficking, and transnational organized crime, the Shield of the Americas was launched at a meeting in Florida with leaders from about half of the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

As reported by Veja, Argentina, Chile, El Salvador, and Ecuador are among the countries that joined the initiative, all cited in the supporting text as conservative governments and strategic allies of the United States in the security agenda.

Although he indicated an expectation of expansion, Rubio did not specify which countries might join the coalition in the coming months, nor did he detail formal criteria for membership, military commitments, or the group’s operating mechanisms.

Nevertheless, the Secretary’s statement linked the possible expansion of the Shield of the Americas to the Latin American electoral calendar, suggesting that changes in government may influence the willingness of new countries to participate in the initiative led by Washington.

Election in Colombia enters Washington’s radar

Rubio’s statements came a few days after the first round of the presidential election in Colombia, a country mentioned in the supporting text amid the United States’ attention to the electoral processes in the region.

On Tuesday (02), Donald Trump celebrated the performance of the right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, who declared support for the security policies promoted by the White House, according to information attributed to the original report.

According to Veja, recent polls indicate the far-right candidate as the favorite in the Colombian race, although Rubio has not announced Colombia’s accession to the Shield of the Americas nor confirmed any formal negotiation about joining the group.

In this context, the Colombian election appears as an example of the relationship made by the secretary between political changes in Latin America and the expectation of coalition growth, without the supporting text presenting an official decision about the country.

Brazil is mentioned in the electoral context of the region

Besides Colombia, Brazil also appears in the scenario observed by the United States, for being the largest Latin American economy and having a presidential election scheduled for October, according to the information present in the supporting text.

At the end of May, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) participated in a meeting with Donald Trump at the White House, in a political rapprochement related to the Brazilian conservative field and former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL).

During the meeting, Trump called Flávio “a smart young man who loves his country, Brazil, very much,” but the report from Veja does not inform if the meeting directly addressed the Shield of the Americas.

There is also no indication in the supporting text of a formal invitation for Brazil’s participation in the coalition, which limits the mention of the country to the broader context of elections monitored by Washington.

Coalition targets drug trafficking and organized crime

The alliance was presented by Rubio as a cooperation front among Western Hemisphere countries against security threats, with a declared focus on terrorism, drug trafficking, and transnational organized crime.

By relating the group’s expansion to the region’s elections, the secretary indicated that the accession of new members will depend on the political alignment of governments that may take command in the coming months.

The statement does not turn new entries into a done deal, but shows the State Department’s expectation that electoral changes will expand the base of countries interested in participating in the initiative.

Rubio also mentions NATO summit

During the same testimony to Congress, Rubio confirmed that Donald Trump will participate in the next summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), scheduled for July in Turkey.

According to the secretary, the meeting could be among the most important in the recent history of the military alliance, as it will address issues considered pending among the countries that make up the bloc.

“I think the next NATO meeting, in July, is probably the most important in the history of the alliance, because there are some issues that need to be clarified and resolved,” Rubio stated.

The secretary added that the discussions should address NATO’s role in European security and the defense commitments made by the members of the alliance.

In the case of the Shield of the Americas, Rubio’s forecast remains linked to political changes in Latin America and the possibility of new governments joining the regional security coalition proposed by the United States.

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Rubio says that the Shield of the Americas could grow after elections in Latin America

Marco Rubio’s statement links the possible expansion of the Shield of the Americas to elections in Latin America, at a time when the United States seeks to expand regional alliances aimed at combating terrorism, drug trafficking, and transnational organized crime.

Shield of the Americas brings together U.S. allied countries

Election in Colombia enters Washington’s radar

Brazil is mentioned in the electoral context of the region

Coalition targets drug trafficking and organized crime

Rubio also mentions NATO summit

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Rubio says that the Shield of the Americas could grow after elections in Latin America

Marco Rubio’s statement links the possible expansion of the Shield of the Americas to elections in Latin America, at a time when the United States seeks to expand regional alliances aimed at combating terrorism, drug trafficking, and transnational organized crime.

Shield of the Americas brings together U.S. allied countries

Election in Colombia enters Washington’s radar

Brazil is mentioned in the electoral context of the region

Coalition targets drug trafficking and organized crime

Rubio also mentions NATO summit

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