After killing hundreds in boat strikes, US military expands...

The U.S. military campaign against drug boats—linked to hundreds of deaths in the past year—could expand to land operations, the Trump administration says. During a visit to Panama, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Colombia, Guatemala and Honduras agreed to allow U.S. joint operations against criminal groups on their soil, citing a parallel model used with Ecuador in March. Hegseth said the aim is “the same effect on land.” Guatemala, however, denied reaching such an agreement. The expansion marks a new phase of the administration’s pressure on Latin American governments to align with U.S. security priorities, though critics warn of civilian casualties and a potential backlash. AP reports the U.S. has already killed more than 200 people in over 60 boat strikes since January 2025.