US‑Led Shield of the Americas Coalition Seeks to Use Drug‑Cartel Crackdown to Counter China

The Shield of the Americas, a 15‑nation coalition led by the United States, has released a document at the 81st UN General Assembly proposing a joint OAS action plan to combat drug cartels. The plan designates 24 trafficking groups, including Brazil’s PCC and CV, as “terrorist” organizations and links the fight to broader economic cooperation, notably the protection of critical‑mineral supply chains. Experts such as Danilo Enrico Martuscelli argue the initiative serves as a pretext for US interference in Latin America and a means to curb China’s economic influence. Brazil, not invited to the coalition, views the proposal with caution, noting it could be used to secure US military presence and restrict China’s role in the region.