U.S. And Latin American Forces Launch Joint Task Force

A new U.S. Military command structure is now synchronizing operations with Latin American and Caribbean partners to target transnational criminal organizations. The Joint Task Force-Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) was activated on August 4, 2026, to provide unified command and control, supporting the 19-nation Americas Counter Cartel Coalition.

In late August and early September, this cooperation led to direct action. JTF-WHEM and Ecuadorian authorities conducted several maritime interdictions against vessels identified as floating refueling stations. These vessels were linked to the terrorist organization Los Choneros and used to support drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific. The operations concluded without incident. Those found aboard were safely transferred to Ecuador, and the vessels were sunk after inspections.

Another operation followed in early September. The Colombian Navy, together with the U.S. Joint Interagency Task Force South, intercepted a go-fast vessel north of Cabo de la Vela. A U.S. Maritime patrol aircraft located and tracked the vessel, guiding Colombian Coast Guard units to the intercept. Colombian authorities seized 736 kilograms of cocaine and detained two Dominican nationals.

From intelligence to operations

Integrating intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities into operational planning is a central element of the new strategy. JTF-WHEM seeks to incorporate gathered information into missions with partner nations and facilitate the sharing needed to coordinate against cross-border networks.

Henry Ziemer, a fellow with the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Air & Space Forces Magazine that ISR is among the region's most pressing needs. He added that air and space assets are critical for obtaining that information.

Security specialist Yadira Gálvez told Diálogo that the task force represents more than just pooling military resources. "More than integrating capabilities, it is about strengthening cooperation," Gálvez said. The objective is to share information and capabilities, strengthen interoperability, and conduct joint deployments. Such exchanges can help expose criminal networks' routes, methods, and operational links.

Understanding these networks is a first step. "The objective has to be centered on dismantling these transnational criminal organizations," Gálvez said. Intelligence must help identify not only leaders but also the facilitators who sustain their operations.

Integrating regional capabilities

Cooperation requires connecting different national capabilities to respond to cross-border threats. As U.S. Southern Command's air component, U.S. Air Forces Southern integrates air, space, and cyber capabilities in support of JTF-WHEM. It also provides combat support, ISR, and interoperability across the region.

These capabilities are part of the transition from the previous Joint Task Force Southern Spear to the expanded JTF-WHEM structure. Cooperation also includes activities aimed at strengthening partner-nation capabilities. In Trinidad and Tobago, for example, these involve joint training, capacity-building exercises, maritime interdiction coordination, and disaster preparedness, according to the Barbados-based Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation.

The new task force seeks to accelerate decision-making and increase the tempo of multinational operations. For Gálvez, a key advance is bringing cooperation to the operational level. It is no longer just about political agreements, but about moving toward operational cooperation, where we can share information, share capabilities, and conduct joint deployments, she said.

Planning for shared action

Operational planning connects available intelligence with concrete objectives. It helps determine what capabilities each participant can contribute and how they can be integrated during a mission. The publication Defense Security Monitor stated that JTF-WHEM and the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition can help guide that planning and build consensus against organized crime.

The U.S. Department of War indicated the task force seeks to strengthen intelligence sharing, expand combined training, and improve interoperability. It also supports maritime interdiction operations and capacity building. For Gálvez, progress in this direction strengthens countries' collective ability to act. More operational cooperation allows nations to better use available information and capabilities against shared threats.

The creation of JTF-WHEM adds a new tool for expanding operational cooperation against criminal networks and other hemispheric threats. For Gálvez, the new structure could pave the way for new forms of military cooperation that are much more operational.