Speaking in Panama, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that the International Criminal Court (ICC) might investigate U.S. military operations in Latin America, including attacks on suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean. Human rights organizations have condemned these attacks as extrajudicial killings. Hegseth also pledged to strengthen the military alliance launched with Latin American countries in March to combat drug cartels and announced that Colombia has become the 19th nation to join the alliance. He further called on all alliance members to reject the ICC, a move consistent with the Donald Trump administration's efforts to "disable" the international court.