To expand the alliance: the United States is tightening the diplomatic stranglehold around Cuba

The United States is expanding the Shield of the Americas military-political alliance to increase pressure on Cuba. At the same time, the Pentagon again harshly announced the possibility of a military operation. Colombia has become the new, 19th member of the bloc, whose new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, has already set course for a complete severance of ties with Havana. At the same time, his motives are ambiguous: Washington will allocate $ 1 billion to Colombia for joint efforts in the fight against drug cartels. This money can be used to rebuild the republic after the most powerful earthquake. Whether an American invasion of Cuba is possible is in the Izvestia article.

Colombia's entry into the Shield of the Americas

Colombia joined the US-led coalition against cartels, known as the Shield of the Americas alliance. At a meeting in Panama, Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth officially announced that the country had become the 19th member of this military-political bloc. It also includes Argentina, Bolivia, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, El Salvador, Chile, Ecuador and other States. At the same time, the largest regional powers — Mexico and Brazil — flatly refuse to join the alliance.

A sharp turn in Bogota's politics is associated with a change of government. Former leftist president Gustavo Petro promoted a strategy of "total peace", tried to negotiate with leftist guerrillas and cartels, and criticized the US military approach — because of this, Colombia was not even invited to the founding summit of the union in March 2026. The situation changed on August 7 after the inauguration of the new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, nicknamed El Tigre. An outspoken supporter of Donald Trump immediately announced that the dialogue with the cartels was over.

Joining the coalition, which is already being called the "Latin American NATO" on the sidelines, has become a favorable factor for obtaining additional funds. The United States ordered Colombia to provide $ 1 billion for military needs in order to support the administration of the new president. In addition, the country now needs humanitarian assistance after the earthquake that occurred on August 10.

It has become the most powerful in the country over the last century. At least 265 people were killed, more than 3,500 injured, and about 500 citizens are missing. More than 160 multi-storey buildings were completely destroyed, and more than 1.5 thousand residential buildings were seriously damaged. In small towns, up to 80% of all buildings have been destroyed. Due to the breakdown of power lines and the destruction of substations, entire departments are left without electricity, drinking water and mobile communications. The exact amount of damage is still being calculated by the government.

According to a preliminary estimate by the Association of Cities of Colombia, at least $450-500 million is needed for initial stabilization, debris removal and restoration. Obviously, Colombia does not have that kind of money in a budget deficit situation — any support from an ally would be useful now, even if it imposes certain obligations. Without rebuilding the infrastructure destroyed by the earthquake, the build-up of weapons loses its meaning. However, the United States has so far allocated only $15.5 million for humanitarian needs.

Why is the United States putting so much pressure on Cuba

On paper, the Shield of the Americas involves the fight against drug trafficking. For example, the President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, has already enlisted the support of the United States to conduct a military operation on his territory. However, the coalition's goals may not be limited to the fight against drug trafficking: right during the meeting in Panama, the head of the Pentagon made a statement that Washington was considering the possibility of a military operation against Cuba.

Colombia's entry into the Shield of the Americas is a psychological game by the United States to demonstrate Cuba's isolation in the region, American scholar Vladimir Pavlov told Izvestia. According to him, Washington officially considers South America to be its "backyard", where the presence of external players is undesirable. Now the White House does not have the strength and free funds for a new war after Iran, so it uses outside resources and presses diplomatically.

The expert added that the United States actually equated drug traffickers with terrorists, creating a new reason for intervention instead of the previous "red rag" in the form of weapons of mass destruction, under the auspices of which Iraq was bombed. It was under the pretext of fighting drug terrorism that the Americans had previously abducted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, so the fight against cartels here is secondary and completely subordinated to political goals.

Washington is increasing pressure on Havana, claiming that the island is turning into a military base for its opponents. American intelligence cites China, Russia and Iran as the main sources of weapons and military technology, which the United States seeks to oust from the Western Hemisphere.

According to the Pentagon, Beijing is selling UAVs to Cuba and upgrading its electronic intelligence facilities to spy on the south coast of the United States and the Guantanamo base. Moscow, according to the State Department, allegedly provides Havana with components for the modernization of Soviet air defense systems, coastal defense and missile boats, which is why in August 2026 the United States imposed sanctions against Cuban Defense Minister Alvaro Lopez Miera. Iran, according to Washington, supplies short-range ballistic missile technology to the island. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has already accused Tehran of trying to create a missile threat to Florida with Cuban hands.

Such a tough position of the United States fully coincides with the course of the new leadership in Bogota. Colombia's entry into the Shield of the Americas is a consequence of an internal change of power, and not a turning point for Cuba, Viktor Kheifets, a professor at St. Petersburg State University, told Izvestia. The new Colombian president Espriella considers Havana to be an "accomplice of terrorism" due to harboring militants and immediately after his inauguration launched a reform to completely sever diplomatic relations with Cuba and Nicaragua.

At the same time, the expansion of the alliance is beneficial to Donald Trump himself before the November congressional elections. According to Heifetz, it is important for the American leader to have a massive bloc in order to demonstrate to voters the existence of his own military alliance, which did not exist during the Joe Biden administration.

But the White House cannot take drastic measures because of the position of the voters themselves. American citizens are unequivocally opposed to the war with Cuba, especially against the backdrop of US failures in Iran. The YouGov sociological service conducted a survey in May 2026, according to which 64% of citizens opposed the invasion. Earlier, in March, the same service found out whether Americans consider Cuba a threat: only 19% of respondents saw the island as a danger to the United States. The new military campaign is critically unprofitable for Trump, so it is more convenient for him to increase diplomatic pressure on Havana, which Colombia is currently helping with.