The United States will likely expand the frequency and geographic scope of strikes targeting alleged drug traffickers over the next year, with the potential for attacks to move onshore in a range of countries across Latin America and the Caribbean, creating physical safety and operating challenges for organizations, as well as compliance risks due to expanding sanctions enforcement. Since Oct. 17, U.S. military strikes targeting alleged drug traffickers in the southern Caribbean Sea have increased in frequency and geographic scope, with strikes off the coast of Colombia and in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The United States publicly acknowledged a total of eight strikes in 12 days, an escalation from the previous rate of announced strikes of approximately one every other week. The first strike, which Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on Oct. 20, occurred on Oct. 17 off the coast of Colombia, targeting alleged members of the National Liberation...
