Dominican Republic hosts hemispheric forum on operations to counter cartels, narco-terrorists

SANTO DOMINGO - The Dominican Republic is hosting defense and public security leaders from across the Western Hemisphere in Santo Domingo, Oct. 26-27, 2026, to operationalize the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C).

A3C unites 19 Western Hemisphere nations to confront and counter cartels and narco-terrorist organizations threatening people, economies, sovereignty, and security across the Americas, including the Caribbean.

During the event, ministers, defense, and security chiefs from the coalition nations will reviewed and approve a military campaign plan outlining their operational strategy and a governance charter defining how they will organize and convene as they implement the plan, support coalition priorities, and achieve shared objectives.

A3C was launched in March 2026, as U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth hosted defense and public security leaders at the headquarters of U.S. Southern Command in Miami, where they signed an agreement pledging to work closely together to stop cartel and narco-terrorist networks and protect their countries.

They have since committed to expand information sharing, increase bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and conduct combined operations that deter and dismantle those networks, secure borders and critical infrastructure, and protect law-abiding citizens.

In August, Hegseth addressed coalition leaders during a follow-on meeting of A3C nations in Panama City, Panama, where he stressed the importance of operationalizing the coalition against narco-terrorism.

As A3C nations solidify their cohesion and operationalize their collective security efforts, they will target the network of criminal enablers who conduct unlawful finance, logistics, corruption and other activities cartels and narco-terrorist organizations rely on to undermine the rule of law, prey on citizens and communities, and challenge state institutions.

A3C is also supportive of the Shield of the Americas, which is led by heads of state and policy leaders working to strengthen the resilience of the Western Hemisphere through economic, security, and multilateral cooperation that defends coalition countries' economies and democratic governance against cartel and narco-terrorist threats, while also defending and promoting mutual respect for national sovereignty and self-determination.