Hegseth calls on Latin American countries to leave the ICC

U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth called on Latin American countries to withdraw from the International Criminal Court at a meeting of the U.S. Anti-Cartel Coalition in Panama. Hegseth also announced that Colombia would join the Shield of the Americas initiative and had requested cooperation from the United States for joint military operations.

Scraper SystemAugust 13, 2026, 11:29 AMUpdated: August 14, 2026, 03:24 AM

Hegseth calls on Latin American countries to leave the ICC

U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth made remarks on the International Criminal Court (ICC) and military operations in the region at a meeting of the U.S. Anti-Cartel Coalition held in Panama.

Calling on the Latin American countries attending the meeting to withdraw from the ICC, Hegseth argued that attempts by the court to strip countries of their sovereignty must be rejected.

Claim that the operations comply with international law

Hegseth also addressed the debate over the legality under international law of U.S. military operations in the region targeting people suspected of drug trafficking. He argued that the operations were fully lawful under international humanitarian law.

UCM'nin tutuklama emirlerini uygulama yetkisi ne kadar güçlü? | Euronews

Colombia to join the Shield of the Americas

Hegseth announced that Colombia would join the Shield of the Americas initiative. He said the new government led by Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella had requested U.S. cooperation to conduct joint military operations in the country to combat drug terrorism.

The Shield of the Americas initiative emerged after a summit held by U.S. President Donald Trump and Latin American countries in Florida in March. Colombia's former President Gustavo Petro was not invited to the summit, where joint action against drug cartels was discussed.

Criticism of the ICC

U.S. President Trump had repeatedly criticized the ICC for issuing arrest warrants for Israeli officials over the war in Gaza and called on his allies to withdraw from the court. The United States is not a party to the ICC's founding treaty, the Rome Statute.

Source: Anadolu Ajansı

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Hegseth calls on Latin American countries to leave the ICC

Stay Updated with Ally Daily

Claim that the operations comply with international law

Colombia to join the Shield of the Americas

Criticism of the ICC

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