Colombian officials ask the United States to conduct joint military operations against terrorism, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says. Speaking at an event in Panama for the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (ACCC), Hegseth says Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella requested joint action “to destroy terrorists and terror networks.”
Hegseth also says Colombia is joining the ACCC, which is described by U.S. officials as nicknamed the “Shield of the Americas,” as its 19th member. Both outlets report the announcement date as 12 August 2026 and frame the coalition’s purpose around countering armed groups linked to terrorism and organized crime.
While both accounts are aligned on the core claims—Colombia requesting U.S. joint operations and Colombia’s planned entry into the ACCC—their wording differs slightly. One outlet emphasizes “authorized” joint operations, while the other describes the request being made to the U.S. government, with both attributing the remarks to Hegseth.
