Colombian Vice President José Manuel Restrepo has signaled a strong embrace of President Donald Trump’s initiative for a new Western Hemisphere security alliance, the ‘Shield of the Americas,’ while firmly asserting that Colombian forces, not U.S. troops, will spearhead operations against domestic armed groups. Speaking after attending a key meeting alongside Trump and other regional leaders, Restrepo characterized the current political climate in Latin America as a ‘wave of freedom, a wave of democracy, a wave of free market,’ suggesting that the new alliance offers a crucial opportunity to preserve democracy across the region. This strategic alignment follows a broader rightward political shift in Latin America, with Colombia joining nations like Argentina and Chile in prioritizing security and economic stability. While the U.S. will provide vital support through intelligence and technology, Restrepo emphasized Colombian sovereignty, stating, ‘The public forces of Colombia are those who are going to act in those places.’ This stance comes as Colombia confronts escalating violence from drug cartels and armed organizations, prompting the new government to move away from the previous administration’s ‘total peace’ policy and reactivate efforts to dismantle illegal armed groups. Furthermore, Colombia has suspended diplomatic relations with Iran, citing alleged links to international terrorist organizations, and Restrepo used the UN General Assembly to call for a unified international definition of terrorism and more effective global cooperation, arguing that confronting terrorism is paramount to achieving peace and that human rights must be applied universally, free from ideological bias.
Adapted from: Latest World News on Fox News
