President Donald Trump joined leaders from over a dozen different international locations Saturday morning at a “Protect of the Americas” summit in Doral, Florida, the place he boasted of the USA’ navy actions and issued warnings towards Latin American adversaries.
The White Home claimed the coalition is dedicated to cooperating with the U.S. in taking over the cartels and securing the American border following the seize of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
President Donald Trump attends the “Protect of the Americas” Summit in Doral, Fla., March 7, 2026.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
Among the many invited attendees had been: Argentinian President Javier Milei, Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz Pereira, Chilean President-elect Jose Antonio Kast and Honduran President Tito Asfura.
Trump started his remarks speaking concerning the newest developments within the U.S.-Israeli warfare with Iran, telling the grouping of Western Hemisphere leaders that “large progress” has been made.
“It has been a reasonably wild time, nevertheless it’s going very nicely,” Trump mentioned concerning the navy motion in Iran.
The summit additionally comes because the battle has resulted in main actions within the U.S. vitality markets.
“We’re doing one thing. I constructed the navy and rebuilt it and made it actually robust. And my first administration, together with loads of different issues we did, we had an incredible first time period, and now we’re utilizing it, sadly, we have now to, however you are seeing how nice it’s,” the president mentioned.
Trump repeatedly touted the U.S. navy’s actions throughout his second time period highlighting the navy operation to seize Maduro, and warning of imminent motion in Cuba.
U.S. President Donald Trump stands with (L-R) Trinidad and Tobago PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar, President of Paraguay Santiago Pena, President of the Dominican Republic Luis Abinader, President of Bolivia Rodrigo Paz Pereira, President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele, President of Argentina Javier Milei, President of Panama Jose Raul Mulino, President of Guyana Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Honduras Nasry Asfura, President of Costa Rica Rodrigo Chaves Robles, President-elect of Chile, Jose Antonio Kast and President of Ecuador Daniel Noboa, on March 7, 2026, in Doral, Florida.
Roberto Schmidt/Getty Photographs
“As we obtain a historic transformation in Venezuela, we’re additionally wanting ahead to the good change that can quickly be coming to Cuba,” Trump mentioned. “Cuba’s on the finish of the road. They’re very a lot on the finish of the road. They haven’t any cash. They haven’t any oil. They’ve a foul philosophy. They’ve a foul regime that is been dangerous for a very long time.”
He added, “However Cuba’s in its final moments of life because it was. It’s going to have an incredible new life, nevertheless it’s in its final moments of life the best way it’s.”
Trump’s relationships with some Latin American leaders have turned tense at occasions and his insurance policies have drawn criticism. Some leaders criticized the U.S. raid that captured Maduro as an assault on Venezuela’s sovereignty.
Trump has additionally been important of Mexico’s efforts to battle drug cartels and traded barbs with the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro. Nonetheless, following the Jan. 3 Venezuela raid, the 2 leaders appeared to have patched up their variations.
Trump invited Petro to the White Home and the 2 issued complimentary statements.
The president signed a proclamation to formally launch “Americas Counter Cartel Coalition” and vowed to go after drug traffickers.
“The guts of our settlement is a dedication to utilizing deadly navy drive to destroy the sinister cartels and terrorist networks as soon as and for all. We’ll do away with them. We want your assist,” Trump mentioned.
The summit additionally comes after Trump introduced he was eradicating Division of Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem from her submit and shifting her to a brand new position as a particular envoy for “The Protect of the Americas.”
Noem emailed DHS employees in a single day on Thursday, informing them that her official last day on the division will probably be March 31 and writing, “In my new position, I can construct on the brand new partnerships and nationwide safety experience I solid over my time as Secretary of Homeland Safety.”
President Donald Trump seems on as Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks in the course of the “Protect of the Americas” Summit at Trump Nationwide Doral in Doral, Fla., on March 7, 2026.
Saul Loeb/AFP through Getty Photographs
The president mentioned in his announcement that he would offer extra particulars about Noem’s position on the summit, however he gave no particulars in the course of the assembly.
Kristi Noem reacts as she attends the “Protect of the Americas” Summit in Doral, Fla., on March 7, 2026.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
Noem was on the assembly together with secretaries Marco Rubio, Howard Lutnick and Pete Hegseth, nevertheless she was not talked about by the president when he personally title checked and thanked the Cupboard members in attendance.
“We wish your character for warfare,” Trump mentioned of Hegseth. “You are simply excellent.”
Later within the summit, Rubio launched Noem to the leaders and advised them “you will note loads of her.”
“She’ll be very concerned with every of you at a private stage and on a every day and weekly and month-to-month stage to make sure that what we discuss right here as we speak and the work we do collectively continues on, and we will construct upon that,” he mentioned.
Noem thanked Trump for the appointment and emphasised the necessity for collaboration between Western Hemisphere international locations to dismantle cartels.
Secretary of Homeland Safety Kristi Noem delivers remarks at a working lunch on the Protect of the Americas Summit, March 7, 2026, at Trump Nationwide Doral Miami in Doral, Fla.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
“Our aims are going to be to destroy the cartels, to go after these narcoterrorists which are destroying our individuals, killing our youngsters and our grandchildren. We’re additionally going to maintain our adversaries at bay,” Noem mentioned.
She provided to present all the leaders her private cellphone quantity, “with the intention to attain me at any time that you could be want one thing, and we’ll work collectively to proceed to make it possible for our relationship is a protect to the Americas.”
