Jamaica has received high-level recognition from the United States for its expanding role in regional efforts to combat narco-terrorism, as Washington seeks to strengthen security partnerships across the Caribbean and Latin America in response to increasingly sophisticated transnational criminal networks.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised Jamaica’s collaboration during the second Americas Counter Cartel Coalition Forum, held in Panama, describing the island as a key partner in efforts to disrupt drug-trafficking operations that use the Caribbean as a major transit route.
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Hegseth made the remarks following talks with Jamaica’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Horace Chang, where both sides discussed expanding cooperation to counter organized crime and strengthen regional security.
Addressing ministers of national security and defence chiefs from 18 countries attending the forum, Hegseth thanked Jamaica for supporting a new military partnership aimed at disrupting the operations of criminal organizations involved in narcotics trafficking throughout the Caribbean.
âI want to thank Jamaica for working with the Department of Defense to create a new military partnership to cripple narco-terrorists that transit through the Caribbean,â Hegseth said, adding that the initiative has the potential to significantly reshape the region’s security landscape.
The coalition forms part of a broader U.S. strategy to deepen security cooperation across the Western Hemisphere as governments confront increasingly interconnected criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking, weapons smuggling, money laundering, and human trafficking. Regional officials have warned that these groups continue to exploit the Caribbean’s geographic position as a major corridor for illicit narcotics destined for North American and European markets.
Jamaica has steadily expanded its cooperation with the United States on maritime surveillance, intelligence sharing, and joint security operations in recent years, reflecting growing concern over the evolving tactics of transnational criminal networks operating throughout the region.
The discussions in Panama also focused on operationalizing the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, an initiative designed to improve intelligence coordination, enhance joint enforcement capabilities, and strengthen collective responses to organized crime across participating nations.
The forum coincided with PANAMAX 2026, a multinational military exercise centered on protecting the Panama Canal and enhancing regional defense cooperation against emerging security threats. Military and civilian leaders from across the Americas participated in the exercise, which also emphasized interoperability among partner nations.
For Jamaica, the recognition represents an endorsement of the country’s increasingly active role in regional security affairs. As criminal organizations continue to adapt and expand their operations across borders, officials have stressed that no single nation can effectively confront the threat alone, making international cooperation an essential component of the Caribbean’s security strategy.
The acknowledgment from Washington also underscores the growing importance of Jamaica within broader U.S. efforts to strengthen security partnerships throughout the Caribbean. With transnational crime remaining one of the region’s most pressing challenges, both countries appear poised to deepen collaboration aimed at disrupting criminal networks while enhancing stability and public safety across the hemisphere.
