US sends 600 troops to Latin America for anti-drug training, sparking debate over Monroe Doctrine revival

Pentagon says deployment restores American preeminence; embassy denies scale, calls reports 'categorically false'

By LineZotpaper

Published19 October 2026

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The United States has deployed hundreds of soldiers to Panama for jungle training, with plans to expand operations to Honduras and Colombia, as part of a broader push to reassert the Monroe Doctrine in Latin America, according to a report by The New York Times. The Pentagon has described the move as a sensible restoration of American power, but the U.S. embassy in Panama has called the account categorically false, saying only 120 personnel are attending a two-week course.

The United States is increasing its military footprint in Latin America, according to a report that has drawn sharp responses from both Washington and regional capitals. The New York Times reported that 600 soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division battalion have been sent to the region, with an initial group already stationed at a military facility in the Panamanian jungle. The troops are to participate in joint training with the militaries of Colombia and Honduras, and are expected to prepare for special operations against drug trafficking cartels.

The deployment is the latest step in what some analysts have dubbed the 'Donroe doctrine,' a phrase blending the name of former president Donald Trump with the 19th-century Monroe Doctrine. The Pentagon's National Security Strategy, published last year, stated: 'After years of neglect, the United States will reassert and enforce the Monroe Doctrine to restore American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere, and to protect our homeland and our access to key geographies throughout the region.' Defense Department officials have described the policy as a forceful restoration of American priorities.

The U.S. embassy in Panama, however, has rejected the New York Times report outright. In a statement, the diplomatic mission said there are 120 U.S. military personnel in the country attending a two-week jungle operations course that ends October 25, after which they will return to their base at Fort Drum, New York. Ambassador Kevin Marino Cabrera added that Panamanian personnel and soldiers from other nationalities are participating, and that the training center has operated for more than a year at the invitation of the Panamanian government.

John D. Feeley, a former U.S. ambassador to Panama, told El País that the deployment is not a single group of 600 but five rotations of 120 soldiers each. 'Historically, the U.S. has sent platoons of 30–40 at a time to train. Six hundred at once is enormous; 120 is larger than usual, but not overly exaggerated.' He noted that the key question is what the soldiers will do after the training.

In Colombia, the prospect of a larger U.S. military role has revived legal and political debate. Colombian law requires Senate approval for the transit of foreign troops or the establishment of foreign military bases, but training and advice can occur without such approval. The Council of State ruled in 2020 that temporary foreign military personnel advising or training without participating in operations or carrying weapons do not constitute a transit of troops. Opposition senator Alejandro Ocampo reminded President Abelardo de la Espriella that he has not asked Congress for authorization for foreign troops.

Laura Bonilla, deputy director of the Paz y Reconciliación Foundation, placed the deployment in the context of the Shield of the Americas, a coalition of defense ministers created by Trump in March to combat drug trafficking. At the operational level, the Coalition of the Americas Against Cartels (A3C) already includes 18 Latin American countries. Bonilla noted that the Trump administration's war on drugs is increasingly military rather than judicial, underpinning actions across the region.

The debate comes amid a series of U.S. actions in Latin America, including bombing alleged drug-running speedboats in the Caribbean, a military operation in Venezuela to capture Nicolás Maduro, and tightened sanctions on Cuba. The Trump administration has also supported right-wing candidates in Colombia and Honduras.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The deployment signals a significant hardening of U.S. military posture toward Latin America, shifting from advisory roles to potential combat operations.
It reignites longstanding debates about sovereignty and the role of foreign troops in countries like Colombia and Panama.
The expansion of the Shield of the Americas and the A3C coalition could reshape regional security dynamics, with implications for drug policy and democratic governance.

Background

The Monroe Doctrine, articulated in 1823 by President James Monroe, asserted U.S. opposition to European colonialism in the Americas and established a sphere of influence. The Trump administration has explicitly revived the doctrine as a guiding principle, framing it as a restoration of American power after years of neglect. Since last summer, the U.S. military has conducted bombing of drug vessels in the Caribbean, and earlier this year Trump ordered an operation in Venezuela. The Pentagon's 2025 National Security Strategy formalized the policy, calling for renewed preeminence in the Western Hemisphere.

Key Perspectives

U.S. administration: The deployment is a necessary step to combat drug trafficking and restore American leadership. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has authorized joint military operations with allies under the Shield of the Americas coalition. U.S. embassy in Panama: The reports are exaggerated; the training is routine, limited to 120 soldiers for two weeks, and conducted at the invitation of the Panamanian government. Colombian opposition and legal experts: The government has not sought congressional approval for foreign troop transit, raising constitutional concerns. Senator Alejandro Ocampo has publicly challenged President De la Espriella on the issue. Regional analysts: The move reflects a broader militarization of drug policy and a network of pro-U.S. allies, but the legal and operational limits of foreign troop deployments remain contested.

What to Watch

Whether the U.S. formally establishes a new Western Hemisphere command headquarters in Miami, as reported.
Any future request by the Colombian government to Congress for authorization of foreign troop operations.
Expansion of the Shield of the Americas and A3C coalition membership and operational activity.
The outcome of the Panama training rotation: whether soldiers return to Fort Drum or redeploy elsewhere.

Sources

US increases military presence in Latin America with training in Panama, Honduras and Colombia · El País English

Checked

11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 6 supported.

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Reports differThe US has sent 600 troops to Latin America (headline).El País English: “The military deployment involves a group of 600 soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division battalion”
Partly supportedThe Pentagon described the move as a sensible restoration of American power.El País English: “a sensible and forceful restoration of American power and priorities”
SupportedThe U.S. embassy in Panama called the report 'categorically false'.El País English: “calling it “categorically false.””
SupportedThe embassy said 120 U.S. military personnel are attending a two-week jungle course that ends October 25, after which they return to Fort Drum, New York.El País English: “there are 120 U.S. military personnel in the Central American country attending a two-week jungle operations course. When it ends, on October 25, they will return to their base at Fort Drum, New York.”
SupportedFormer ambassador John D. Feeley said the deployment is five rotations of 120 soldiers and that 600 at once is enormous.El País English: ““Historically, the U.S. has sent platoons of 30–40 at a time to train. Six hundred at once is enormous; 120 is larger than usual, but not overly exaggerated.””
Partly supportedTroops are expected to prepare for special operations against drug cartels, as the NYT reported.El País English: “The military detachment is preparing to take part in special operations against drug trafficking cartels, sources for that outlet said.”
SupportedOpposition senator Alejandro Ocampo told President De la Espriella that he has not asked Congress for authorization for foreign troops.El País English: ““You have not asked Congress for authorization for foreign troops to transit in our country,” he wrote on X.”
Partly supportedLaura Bonilla said the Trump administration's war on drugs is increasingly military rather than judicial.El País English: “The war on drugs that the Donald Trump administration has promoted underpins the actions the United States has taken in the region, even when those actions are more military in nature than judicial or police-like.”
SupportedThe A3C coalition includes 18 Latin American countries.El País English: “It includes 18 Latin American countries, including Colombia, Panama and Honduras.”
Partly supportedThe US tightened sanctions on Cuba.El País English: “he stepped up pressure on Cuba by tightening the energy embargo”
SupportedTrump ordered a military operation in Venezuela to capture Nicolás Maduro.El País English: “Trump ordered a military operation in Venezuela to capture Nicolás Maduro”