Experts warn Trump’s Latin America drug strategy ignores root causes

At a Tuesday forum hosted by the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, experts examined the Trump administration’s strategy against organized crime in Latin America. Panelists Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, Isabel Pereira Arana and Lee Schlenker warned that a security-first approach neglects underlying issues such as rural poverty, weak state presence and entrenched corruption. They noted that coca cultivation remains a vital income source in parts of Colombia, and that cartels have expanded into non-drug economies, limiting the impact of a drug-centric policy.

The discussion emphasized that militarized pressure can produce a “balloon effect,” pushing illicit activity to new locations and prompting technological adaptations. The scholars advocated for a blended policy combining targeted security cooperation with rural development, financial enforcement and anti-corruption measures, suggesting that greater autonomy for countries like Mexico would improve outcomes.