Trump Hosts Latin American Leaders at ‘Shield of the Americas’ Summit in Doral

Doral, Florida – President Donald Trump convened a security summit, the “Shield of the Americas,” in Doral, Florida, bringing together leaders from across Latin America to discuss regional security, migration, and economic cooperation. The summit, held on March 9, 2026, aims to foster a stronger alliance to address shared challenges in the Western Hemisphere.

Summit Focus: Freedom, Security, and Prosperity

The White House confirmed the primary goal of the summit is to promote “freedom, security, and prosperity” throughout the region [NBC Miami]. A key focus of the discussions is addressing criminal narco-terrorist gangs and cartels, as well as countering illegal migration into the United States and the broader Western Hemisphere [NBC Miami]. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated this remains a “key and top priority” for the President.

Participating Nations

Leaders from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago attended the summit [NBC Miami] and [Local 10]. The White House indicated that additional countries may have been invited [NBC Miami]. Paraguayan President Santiago Peña shared his official invitation to the summit on Instagram [NBC Miami] and [Local 10].

Shift in Hemispheric Policy

The “Shield of the Americas” summit signifies a move beyond simply discussing hemispheric issues to establishing a more concrete operational alignment under U.S. Leadership [Miami Herald]. The Observatory on Latin America (LATAM) suggests the meeting marks a transition from declarative policy to regional action [Miami Herald].

Doral as a Hub for International Cooperation

Doral Mayor Christi Fraga highlighted the importance of the summit for the city and Miami-Dade County, noting that it places “the eyes of the world” on the region [Local 10]. The event is seen as a precursor to the G20 summit later in the year, showcasing American ingenuity and businesses and promoting the purchase of American-made products [Local 10].

Trump’s Stance on Cartels

Following the summit, President Trump vowed to consider using U.S. Military force against cartels operating across Latin America [Politico]. Seventeen countries signed a joint security declaration in support of this initiative [Politico].