Medellín to Host US Anti-Cartel Coalition

RT

Ask Rio Times

17 years of Latin America reporting, on demand.

Ask

Open the full Ask Rio Times →

RTAsk Rio TimesCost of living, safety, visas across Latin America›

COLOMBIA · SECURITY

Medellín, Colombia’s second-largest city, will be the seat of the US-led anti-cartel coalition of 19 countries, known as the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C). Defense Minister Jorge Eduardo Mora and Mayor Federico Gutiérrez announced it on Sunday 25 October 2026, the city government says.

For US readers, a Colombian city is becoming a working base where American agents will cooperate with Colombian police against cocaine trafficking. General Francis Donovan, who commands US Southern Command (the Pentagon’s Latin America headquarters), has already taken part in coalition meetings with Colombia and Ecuador.

What Colombia Announced on 25 October

Mora, a retired general who leads Colombia’s Defense Ministry, said Medellín “has been selected as the seat” of the anti-cartel coalition. The city government says he spoke during a tour of the C5i, the city’s new command complex, with national officials and US delegates.

Mayor Gutiérrez told them that criminal groups must be fought from the cities, because “the crime we fight is transnational.” He said the complex will become the physical space for decisions against the cartels, with a focus on intelligence and money laundering.

What the Anti-Cartel Coalition Is

The A3C is a US-led military and security alliance that President Donald Trump launched in March 2026. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon chief, addressed the anti-cartel coalition’s defense ministers and military chiefs in Panama in August 2026.

Its stated goals are to fight transnational drug cartels, reduce illegal migration and limit foreign geopolitical interference in the hemisphere. Hegseth said the 19 partner countries would approve a joint A3C campaign plan by November.

What the Medellín Fusion Center Will Do

The city government says Medellín will host a Fusion Center for Interagency and Transnational Work as part of the anti-cartel coalition. It will link Colombian prosecutors and police with the FBI (the US federal police), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Its stated tasks are to share intelligence, identify high-value criminal targets, trace their international links and attack their finances. It will sit in the C5i, which combines smart video surveillance, drones, big data and artificial intelligence.

A Timeline Tied to Colombia’s New Government

As president-elect, De la Espriella said in July 2026 that Medellín would host the main seat of the US-backed Shield of the Americas. He took office on 7 August, and Mora signed Colombia’s entry into the coalition in Panama that month.

General Donovan made his first official visit to Colombia on 27 and 28 August 2026. He met Mora and the military commander, attended a three-way A3C meeting in San Lorenzo, Ecuador, and visited the Tolemaida training center.

The Price Tag and the Schedule

The city government says the C5i is 44% built, has created 544 jobs and is due for delivery in May 2027. It puts the investment at more than COP 205 billion (about US$65 million at 3,164 pesos to the US dollar).

The city also says its police and prosecutors captured 1,073 members of criminal groups between 2024 and 2026, including 46 leaders. It adds that Medellín is the first Colombian city outside the capital with an Interpol office, and our Medellín city guide covers daily life there.

What It Means for You

Neither release mentions a travel restriction or a change in entry rules for visitors. Check the US State Department’s current advice for Colombia before you travel.

Investors in Colombian assets can note that President de la Espriella has tied his security policy to Washington since before taking office. Our explainers on Colombia-US relations and Colombian geopolitics give context, and our Dominican Republic report covers the coalition’s cartel talks in Santo Domingo.

What Is Not Known

The city and Defense Ministry releases give no date for a ministers’ meeting in the city. None says that US Southern Command will hold a summit there.

Officials have not said how many US personnel will work in the city or whether any will be armed. The releases also do not say what the fusion center itself will cost.

More: Colombia news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition?

It is a US-led alliance of 19 countries, launched in March 2026 to fight drug cartels. Colombia joined in August 2026.

Why was Medellín chosen?

The government has not published a detailed reason. The city is building a large security command complex and already hosts an Interpol office.

Will US troops be based in Medellín?

Neither release mentions troops or a military base. They describe a fusion center where Colombian and US agencies share intelligence.

When will the anti-cartel coalition meet in Medellín?

The city and Defense Ministry releases give no date. US Secretary of War Hegseth said in August that the campaign plan would be approved by November 2026.

Is it safe for Americans to visit Medellín?

Neither release announces a new travel warning. Check the US State Department’s current advice before you travel.

Sources: Alcaldía de Medellín (Medellín city government), press release on Medellín as seat of the A3C, 25 October 2026; US Southern Command, Gen. Donovan visits Colombia, 28 August 2026; US Southern Command, Hegseth touts Americas Counter Cartel Coalition during Panama visit, 12 August 2026; Ministerio de Defensa Nacional de Colombia (Colombian Ministry of Defense), 1 November 2026.

Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error