US Defense Secretary says troops may shift from Europe to Latin America

In remarks on Saturday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that a portion of U.S. service members may be reassigned from European bases to the Western Hemisphere. He explained that the United States is broadening its military footprint in Central and South America, cooperating with partners in Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala and Panama. The shift follows what he described as a “bold move” by the president in Venezuela, referring to the successful capture of former leader Nicolas Maduro.

Hegseth tied the redeployment to the Trump administration’s intensified effort against drug cartels and to new economic and military options available through regional partnerships. He emphasized that the national security and defense strategies call for more burden sharing, particularly in Europe, while expanding cooperation in the Americas. The proposal signals a potential re-orientation of U.S. force posture across two continents.