President Donald Trump is set to announce a major agreement at the upcoming “Shield of the Americas” summit, according to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. This development comes as Noem transitions into her new role as Special Envoy for the coalition, following her recent departure from the Department of Homeland Security.
The summit, scheduled for Saturday at Trump’s resort in Doral, Florida, will bring together the president and leaders from 12 Latin American nations. The gathering focuses on creating a unified front against mass illegal immigration, powerful narco-terrorist gangs, and drug cartels across the Western Hemisphere.
Noem, speaking from Nashville on Friday, confirmed her attendance at the event. She revealed that Trump plans to unveil “a big agreement” outlining coordinated strategies to combat cartels and drug trafficking throughout the region. This announcement builds on recent efforts, including a joint security declaration signed earlier in the week during a strategic conference led by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. That declaration involved representatives from 17 countries in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, who recommitted to regional peace and sovereignty.
The “Shield of the Americas” initiative represents a key part of Trump’s broader foreign policy in the Americas, often referred to by the White House as reinforcing the “Donroe Doctrine.” This approach aims to restore and strengthen U.S. leadership in the Western Hemisphere after what officials describe as years of neglect. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly highlighted successes such as securing the southern border, cooperating with Latin American partners to defeat cartels, and pursuing justice against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who faces charges in New York. These steps, she said, have fostered historic economic cooperation with Venezuela and made the region safer and more stable.
Noem’s appointment as Special Envoy was announced Thursday, the same day Trump revealed her exit from the Homeland Security role. In her new position, she will serve as a key liaison for the coalition, drawing on her experience overseeing border security, large-scale deportations of criminal illegal immigrants, and major counter-drug operations against cartels. White House spokesperson Olivia Wales praised Noem’s track record, noting that it “positions her well to ensure American preeminence in the entire Western Hemisphere” through innovative strategies to defeat narco-terrorists and curb mass migration.
Several high-profile members of Trump’s Cabinet will attend the summit, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Rubio expressed enthusiasm about partnering with Noem, calling her “a tremendous asset” in promoting security and prosperity across the hemisphere based on her achievements at Homeland Security.
Leaders expected at the summit include Argentina’s Javier Milei, El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele, Bolivia’s Rodrigo Paz Pereira, Costa Rica’s Rodrigo Chaves Robles, Panama’s José Raúl Mulino Quintero, Trinidad and Tobago’s Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Chile’s Jose Antonio Kast, the Dominican Republic’s Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona, Ecuador’s Daniel Roy Gilchrist Noboa Azín, Guyana’s Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Honduras’ Nasry “Tito” Asfura, and Paraguay’s Santiago Peña.
The event underscores Trump’s push for stronger alliances in the Americas to address shared threats like drug trafficking and illegal migration, with the anticipated agreement expected to formalize deeper cooperation among the participating nations.