Trump’s war on drug cartels could gain powerful new ally after pivotal election
Brazil could join the US-led Shield of the Americas security initiative if conservative candidate Flávio Bolsonaro wins the country’s presidential run-off, his brother Eduardo says. The move would bring a major South American country into a regional effort to combat drug cartels through closer security cooperation.
The initiative aims to share intelligence, coordinate military activity and disrupt criminal financing. Brazil has not joined under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; Flávio Bolsonaro has said he would pursue closer cooperation with the US and other regional governments. Argentina, El Salvador and Peru participate, while Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay and Chile have also joined, according to the US State Department. The coalition followed the Trump administration’s 2025 designation of eight criminal organisations as terrorist groups.
In short
- Flávio Bolsonaro’s election could bring Brazil into a US-led anti-cartel initiative.
- The coalition focuses on intelligence sharing and security coordination.
- Brazil has not joined under President Lula.
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The case for
Supporters could argue that cartel networks cross borders and require countries to share intelligence and coordinate enforcement. Brazil’s participation could strengthen efforts to disrupt trafficking and criminal finance, while closer cooperation with the US and regional partners may improve security for people affected by organised crime.
The case against
Sceptics could argue that a US-led security initiative risks drawing Brazil into another government’s priorities and giving military cooperation too large a role in tackling crime. They may favour Brazil retaining more independence and focusing on domestic policing, social policy and regional approaches, while scrutinising how the coalition’s terrorist designations and operations affect rights and accountability.
Explained simply
Brazil is the largest country in South America and a major regional power. Its president helps set the country’s approach to security and its ties with the United States. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is the current president; Flávio Bolsonaro is a conservative candidate whose brother Eduardo has described a possible change in policy if he wins the run-off.
Shield of the Americas is a US-led initiative for countries to work together against drug cartels. Participants aim to share intelligence, coordinate security operations and disrupt criminal financing. Several Latin American countries have joined, while Brazil has not joined under Lula.
The initiative grew after the Trump administration designated eight criminal organisations as terrorist groups in 2025. Brazil’s participation could affect cooperation between governments in a region where organised crime crosses borders, as well as the country’s relationship with the United States.
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