Trump is planning to send drones to a new part of the world as his military campaigns expand: report
The Trump administration intends to deploy drones to South America ahead of planned operations on the continent targeting drug trafficking and terrorism, according to a new report.
MQ-9 Reaper drones based out of Africa are expected to be transferred to U.S. Southern Command, which oversees operations in Latin America, half a dozen sources with knowledge of the matter told CNN.
The remotely piloted aircraft — which cost $56 million apiece — are primarily used for intelligence gathering, though they can also be used to carry out precision strikes, according to the Air Force.
While the number of drones slated for relocation from Africa remains unknown, one source told CNN that “most” would be reassigned to South America, where the Trump administration has sought to exert extraordinary influence.
The move highlights the tradeoffs confronting a military stretched across multiple regions. In Africa, concerns about terrorism — including from ISIS — remain present. In the Middle East, questions have been raised about the supply of MQ-9 Reaper drones after at least 45 aircraft, or about 25 percent of the fleet, were reportedly lost in the Iran war.
The Independent has contacted the Pentagon for comment.
Since returning to office, Trump has pursued an aggressive policy to establish U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere — an approach that has been dubbed the “Donroe Doctrine.”
For instance, last September, his administration began striking alleged drug boats near the continent, which have resulted in the deaths of at least 230 people. In January, U.S. special forces captured then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife during an operation in Caracas.
Trump’s supporters have hailed the moves as a forceful assertion of U.S. interests, while critics have condemned them as brazenly unlawful.
CNN also previously reported that the Justice Department had drafted a legal opinion last year that permits the U.S. military to carry out lethal action against alleged drug traffickers and cartels, citing an imminent threat to Americans.
More recently, U.S. officials have sought to expand their operations by forging security partnerships with governments across Latin America.
During an August visit to Panama, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia and Jamaica for partnering with the U.S. in military operations targeting “narco-terrorists” in those nations.
Some operations have already taken place.
In March, the Pentagon announced that the U.S. had “executed targeted action” against “narco-terrorism networks” in Ecuador in partnership with the country’s government. “We are bombing Narco Terrorists on land as well,” Hegseth boasted at the time.
A subsequent investigation by The New York Times indicates that the bombed‑out site had no connection to drug trafficking and appears to have been a small dairy and cattle farm.
In recent weeks, the U.S. has also reached agreements with Colombia and Panama to send drones to both countries, including for drug-trafficking surveillance.
