Trump Calls For Latin American Support In Cartel Crackdown

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB) – U.S. and Ecuadorian forces carried out “lethal kinetic strikes” against drug traffickers in Ecuador near the Colombian border. This is the joint force’s first known attack on cartels since the combined mission started this week.

The operation targeted “Designated Terrorist Organizations.” The joint mission comes as the Trump administration is working to expand efforts against cartels in Latin America.

Trump encourages Latin American leaders to use military action to help the U.S. fight cartels. He said U.S. and regional allies are banding together to combat violent cartels as his administration looks to demonstrate it remains committed to sharpening the U.S. foreign policy focus on the Western Hemisphere, even while dealing with crises around the globe.

During a summit with Latin American leaders, Trump signed a proclamation committing to aid in the fight against cartels. During the signing, he told leaders, “[W]e have to use our military. You have to use your military.”  Trump called the new proclamation a “commitment to using lethal military force” against cartels.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense news from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

THE PDB – Not the President’s Daily Briefing, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF:    

NATIONAL SECURITY

Air Force Global Strike Command conducted an operational test launch of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with two dummy test reentry vehicles.

Trump’s new cyber strategy calls for responding more directly to threats and securing critical U.S. technologies.

HOMELAND DEFENSE

Pentagon and FAA agreed to conduct anti-drone laser tests in New Mexico after the military’s deployment of the lasers led FAA to suddenly close airspace in Texas twice last month.

US POWER OVERSEAS

Set for decommissioning, our oldest carrier, USS Nimitz, not finished yet, deploys to Southern Command area of operations for one last go.

Ten Vermont Army National Guard troops completed a grueling cross-country skiing challenge to earn the Norwegian Ski Badge, the first time the event has been hosted by a unit outside the Norwegian Armed Forces.

IRAN THREAT

Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, now named as his successor, had long been considered a contender even before an Israeli strike killed his father. And despite never having been in government, and his father not anointing him, he wanted to avoid the appearance of a dynasty.

Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike U.S. warships, aircraft, and other assets in the region. Trump says it doesn’t matter.

IRAN CAMPAIGN

No deal with Iran except “unconditional surrender.” Trump escalated discourse on the Iran war, saying the U.S. would be abandoning talks unless the country capitulates entirely.

As he vows escalation, President Trump, wearing a white USA baseball hat, rendered six salutes at Dover Air Force base as six flag-draped cases of fallen troops were returned to U.S. soil – the first U.S. casualties of Operation Epic Fury.

Seventh U.S. soldier killed. The service member was seriously wounded during an attack on U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia on March 1.

U.S. anti-drone system proven against Russian drones in Ukraine to be sent to the Middle East to bolster defenses against Iranian drones.

Trump officials conceded during a private briefing on Capitol Hill that Iran’s Shahed-136 drone is proving more disruptive on the battlefield than anticipated.

CENTCOM posted video of U.S. strike on Iranian “drone carrier.”

Watch aircraft launching from USS Abraham Lincoln during Operation Epic Fury.

Former Joint Chiefs chair on Iran conflict: “I worry about this getting drawn out.” Retired Admiral Mike Mullen said he has anxiety around the potential for lasting U.S. conflict in Iran.

REGIONAL, ALLIED IMPACT OF IRAN CONFLICT

Why vulnerable Gulf energy assets are rattling the world.

Iraqi oil production collapses with the Strait of Hormuz blocked by conflict.

U.K. confirms U.S. military now using British bases for operations against Iran.

NATO increased its ballistic missile defense posture across the alliance in response to an Iranian missile fired at Turkey, a member of the bloc that hosts a major air base.

The Trump administration is confronting mounting discontent from Persian Gulf allies who have complained they were not given adequate time to prepare for a torrent of Iranian drones and missiles bombarding their countries in retaliation for strikes launched by the U.S. and Israel on Iran.

Iran’s drone swarm tactics against Gulf states are prompting calls for cheaper regional defense layers that would avoid interceptor exhaustion, amid the possibility of a prolonged drone war across the Middle East.

CHINA THREAT

China may be preparing for nuclear war. The U.S. isn’t. Rather than aiming for nuclear deterrence, China appears to be building a stockpile to wage war.

For China, Billions of Dollars Are at Risk From a Widening War. The country found a home in the Middle East for its investments and growing markets for steel, electric vehicles, and solar panels. Those are now at stake.

Japan prepares for deployment of its first home-developed long-range missile. Japan is set to deploy its first batch of upgraded Type-12 missiles, as the country accelerates its offensive capability in response to rising challenges in the region. Japan’s emerging “counterstrike” missile posture.

EUROPEAN DEFENSE BUILDUP

Switzerland will consider acquiring a second long-range air-defense system, preferably produced in Europe, as delivery of previously ordered U.S. Patriot systems will be delayed by four to five years.

US MILITARY

Netflix released “War Machine,” a science fiction action film that raises an oddly believable military premise: What if the final phase of Army Ranger selection suddenly involved fighting a giant alien robot?

Silent Watcher. Autonomous Decoy. Lethal Hunter. LampreyMMAUV, a multi-mission autonomous undersea vehicle, is a new class of smart, stealthy, do-it-all submersibles built to disrupt and deny enemy forces at sea.

Clearing a path to the front lines of combat has only about 50% survivability rate for Army combat engineers.

A Coast Guard rescue swimmer died from injuries suffered while responding to a distressed mariner aboard a large vessel offshore of Washington state.

END of PDB