By Caribbean News Global 
GEORGETOWN, Guyana – President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali is set to represent Guyana at the historic “Shield of the Americas” Summit hosted by United States president Donald Trump in Doral City, Florida, on March 7.
The summit brings together heads of state from 12 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean to strengthen cooperation on security, migration and the war on drug cartels.
President Ali and prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago Kamla Persad-Bissessar are the only two Caribbean leaders attending the event.
Other invited leaders include presidents Javier Milei (Argentina), Rodrigo Paz (Bolivia), Rodrigo Chaves (Costa Rica), Daniel Noboa (Ecuador), Nayib Bukele (El Salvador), Nasry Asfura (Honduras), José Raul Mulino (Panama), and Santiago Peña (Paraguay), as well as Presidents-Elect José Antonio Kast (Chile) and Laura Fernández (Costa Rica).
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said that the summit is intended to strengthen cooperation among governments and to address common regional challenges.
The Trump administration has stated that the Americas and Western Hemisphere are part of the US’ immediate sphere of influence. The Monroe Doctrine adds to the prominence of the Americas in the 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS).
President Trump is expected to announce “a big agreement” related to cartels and drug trafficking in the entire Western Hemisphere.
US national security strategy is likewise a major focus dealing with the Western Hemisphere, and policy directives to leverage US military and intelligence assets.
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Meanwhile, the government of Guyana signed onto the Americas Counter-Cartel Joint Security Declaration during the Americas Counter-Cartel Conference.
“ The intent is to strengthen security and defense relationships; respects the sovereignty of each nation; and recognises the strategic importance of cooperation among partners to foster a safe and secure hemisphere.
” The declaration–a commitment shared among all signatories–prioritises expanding multilateral and bilateral cooperation to enhance security in the Americas; cooperating to address border security, countering narco-trafficking, and securing critical infrastructure; advancing peace through strength; and working together to combat narco-terrorism in our shared hemisphere.
“ The declaration builds upon the shared, expanding strategic partnership between Guyana and the United States. Through capacity building, joint exercises, and policy and technical engagements, Guyana and the United States have worked closely together to combat narco-trafficking and other forms of transnational crime,” DPI reports.
