President Donald Trump joined leaders from over a dozen different nations Saturday morning at a “Defend of the Americas” summit in Doral, Florida, the place he boasted of america’ army actions and issued warnings towards Latin American adversaries.
The White Home claimed the coalition is dedicated to cooperating with the U.S. in taking over the cartels and securing the American border following the seize of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
President Donald Trump attends the “Defend of the Americas” Summit in Doral, Fla., March 7, 2026.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
Among the many invited attendees had been: Argentinian President Javier Milei, Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz Pereira, Chilean President-elect Jose Antonio Kast and Honduran President Tito Asfura.
Trump started his remarks speaking concerning the newest developments within the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, telling the grouping of Western Hemisphere leaders that “great progress” has been made.
“It has been a reasonably wild time, however it’s going very properly,” Trump mentioned concerning the army motion in Iran.
The summit additionally comes because the battle has resulted in main actions in the U.S. energy markets.
“We’re doing one thing. I constructed the army and rebuilt it and made it actually sturdy. And my first administration, together with a number of different issues we did, we had an amazing first time period, and now we’re utilizing it, sadly, we have now to, however you are seeing how nice it’s,” the president mentioned.
Trump repeatedly touted the U.S. army’s actions throughout his second time period highlighting the army operation to seize Maduro, and warning of imminent motion in Cuba.
U.S. President Donald Trump stands with (L-R) Trinidad and Tobago PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar, President of Paraguay Santiago Pena, President of the Dominican Republic Luis Abinader, President of Bolivia Rodrigo Paz Pereira, President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele, President of Argentina Javier Milei, President of Panama Jose Raul Mulino, President of Guyana Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Honduras Nasry Asfura, President of Costa Rica Rodrigo Chaves Robles, President-elect of Chile, Jose Antonio Kast and President of Ecuador Daniel Noboa, on March 7, 2026, in Doral, Florida.
Roberto Schmidt/Getty Photos
“As we obtain a historic transformation in Venezuela, we’re additionally wanting ahead to the good change that can quickly be coming to Cuba,” Trump mentioned. “Cuba’s on the finish of the road. They’re very a lot on the finish of the road. They don’t have any cash. They don’t have any oil. They’ve a nasty philosophy. They’ve a nasty regime that is been dangerous for a very long time.”
He added, “However Cuba’s in its final moments of life because it was. It’s going to have an amazing new life, however it’s in its final moments of life the best way it’s.”
Trump’s relationships with some Latin American leaders have turned tense at instances and his insurance policies have drawn criticism. Some leaders criticized the U.S. raid that captured Maduro as an assault on Venezuela’s sovereignty.
Trump has additionally been important of Mexico’s efforts to battle drug cartels and traded barbs with the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro. Nevertheless, following the Jan. 3 Venezuela raid, the 2 leaders appeared to have patched up their variations.
Trump invited Petro to the White Home and the 2 issued complimentary statements.
The president signed a proclamation to formally launch “Americas Counter Cartel Coalition” and vowed to go after drug traffickers.
“The guts of our settlement is a dedication to utilizing deadly army power to destroy the sinister cartels and terrorist networks as soon as and for all. We’ll eliminate them. We want your assist,” Trump mentioned.
The summit additionally comes after Trump introduced he was removing Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from her publish and shifting her to a brand new position as a particular envoy for “The Defend of the Americas.”
Noem emailed DHS workers in a single day on Thursday, informing them that her official ultimate day on the division will probably be March 31 and writing, “In my new position, I can construct on the brand new partnerships and nationwide safety experience I cast over my time as Secretary of Homeland Safety.”
President Donald Trump appears to be like on as Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks throughout the “Defend of the Americas” Summit at Trump Nationwide Doral in Doral, Fla., on March 7, 2026.
Saul Loeb/AFP by way of Getty Photos
The president mentioned in his announcement that he would supply extra particulars about Noem’s position on the summit, however he gave no particulars throughout the assembly.
Kristi Noem reacts as she attends the “Defend of the Americas” Summit in Doral, Fla., on March 7, 2026.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
Noem was on the assembly together with secretaries Marco Rubio, Howard Lutnick and Pete Hegseth, nevertheless she was not talked about by the president when he personally identify checked and thanked the Cupboard members in attendance.
“We would like your persona for conflict,” Trump mentioned of Hegseth. “You are simply excellent.”
