Buenos Aires to Host 40th International Drug Enforcement Conference
The Libertad Palace in Buenos Aires will hold the 40th International Drug Enforcement Conference this week, organized by the U.S. DEA and Argentina’s Ministry of Security.
From Tuesday through Thursday, the Libertad Palace in downtown Buenos Aires will serve as the venue for the 40th International Drug Enforcement Conference, a gathering organized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Argentina’s Ministry of Security. The event expects between 400 and 600 delegates, comprising senior police and security officials from numerous countries, to discuss strategies for combating drug trafficking, international money laundering and narco-terrorism.
The summit is being held under tight security and without media access. Participants will include Mexico’s secretary of security and citizen protection Omar García Harfuch, despite prior tensions with the DEA, and Argentina’s security minister Alejandra Monteoliva, underscoring the strong partnership between President Donald Trump and President Javier Milei. Planning began in 2025 under former security minister Patricia Bullrich, who previously worked to restore DEA cooperation in South America. The conference aligns with a broader rightward shift in Latin America and Washington’s push to re-assert influence in the region.
Why it matters
The meeting signals deepening U.S.-Argentina cooperation on drug enforcement and broader regional security efforts.
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