You expect the military to be clear about where its troops are going. You expect a straight answer on how many soldiers are moving. Here is the thing: the numbers do not match up. Reports say 600 soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division are deploying to Latin America. But the U.S. Embassy in Panama says only 120 are there for a short course. This is where it changes.
Hundreds of U.S. Army troops are being deployed to train local forces and possibly engage drug cartels. Breitbart reported that these troops are expected to carry out raids and operations. The mission fits the new Shield of the Americas initiative. This plan includes 13 nations, including the United States. It aims to stop terrorist drug cartels from operating in the region.
The Daily Wire stated that soldiers from Fort Drum, New York, have begun deploying to Panama for jungle training. The initial group is a battalion of about 600 soldiers. Training is also planned for Colombia and Honduras. Some of these troops might guard American helicopters. They could assist Special Operations personnel if those advisers get into trouble.
The U.S. is deploying several hundred troops from the 10th Mountain Division to Latin America as the Pentagon expands its campaign against drug cartels.
A 600-soldier battalion has begun deploying to Panama, with troops also expected to train in Colombia and Honduras and potentially support special operations against traffickers.
The Pentagon has also moved MQ-9 Reaper drones to Colombia and Ecuador, while U.S. commanders are planning to expand strikes from boats to land targets.
Source: NYT
— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 14, 2026
Yet the U.S. Embassy in Panama challenged the 600-troop claim. The Daily Wire noted that the embassy said only 120 soldiers are participating in a two-week course. These troops were supposed to return to their home units afterward. The report does not confirm that the new soldiers will carry out raids themselves. The discrepancy leaves the public guessing about the true scale of the operation.
A new command in Miami will be staffed by several hundred soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division stationed beyond the jungle. This unit will support operations across the Western Hemisphere. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has pushed for this effort through the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition. He spoke at a gathering in Panama last August. He described the motto for the group with simple words: "We do bad things to bad people."
The Pentagon has already struck dozens of vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. These ships were said to be transporting drugs. Land targets are now included in U.S. commanders' plans to broaden strikes originating from boats. According to The Daily Caller, the Pentagon relocated MQ-9 Reaper drones to Ecuador and Colombia as well. This shows a shift from just watching to hitting hard.
When asked about the troop movements, officials stayed silent on specifics. Steven McLoud, a media relations officer for U.S. Southern Command, told The Daily Caller that they cannot share details. Due to operational security concerns, he stated that operational movements and U.S. personnel deployment details will not be disclosed or commented on. This is standard procedure, but it fuels the confusion.
The Shield of the Americas initiative faces strong opposition. The main detractors are countries with left-leaning governments. These include Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico has explicitly refused to accept U.S. troops on her nation's soil. This tension could complicate the mission before it even starts.
The plan is bold. It moves hundreds of soldiers into a region where local leaders are already angry. It pairs jungle training with the threat of land-based strikes. The government wants to stop cartels, but it refuses to say exactly how many troops are involved. The Pentagon is expanding its counter-drug campaign. The question remains whether the world will see 120 trainers or 600 fighters.