Bogotá, Colombia – The United States is deploying as many as 600 troops to Latin America as it ramps up military operations against organized crime in the region, according to a New York Times report citing Pentagon officials.
The soldiers will reportedly train counterparts in Panama, Honduras, and Colombia and participate in joint military exercises.
The deployment underscores the White House’s foreign policy focus on Latin America, say experts, as President Donald Trump targets drug trafficking organizations in the region through military intervention.
Troops from the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, a military reservation in New York, have begun deploying to a training facility in the Panama jungle, according to the article.
They will then head to Honduras, a key transit point for drug trafficking, and Colombia – the world’s main cocaine producer.
Though joint training exercises are common, the number of troops being deployed is exceptional for Latin America.
“It’s the biggest deployment I can think of… for an exercise or training mission,” Adam Isacson, Defense Oversight director at the Washington Office on Latin America, told Latin America Reports.
He added that the unprecedented number of troops signals the White House’s renewed interest in the region: “It just shows that they’ve made Latin America a top priority.”
Since Trump returned to office in January 2025, the U.S. State Department has classified 21 groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The President has also declared war on “narcoterrorists”, ordering sweeping migrant raids at home against suspected gang members and launching missile strikes at sea and on land in Latin America as part of Operation Southern Spear.
The troop deployment appears to be part of this broader strategy targeting criminal groups.
“The move… points to deeper U.S. involvement and an escalation in the fight against criminal organizations in the region,” said Glaeldys Gonzalez, Southern Andes analyst at the Brussels-based International Crisis Group.
She noted existing military cooperation between the U.S. and Colombia, traditionally its strongest ally in Latin America.
“Colombian forces already rely heavily on U.S. air support, intelligence, funding and technology to confront armed and criminal groups competing for territorial control,” the analyst told Latin America Reports.
It remains unclear what the latest deployment will change.
“The number of troops potentially heading to Colombia and whether they would join routine exercises or undertake additional operational duties remain unclear,” said Gonzalez.
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