International News: Trump administration plans $52 million in Security aid for Latin American allies

By Zoila Palma:  The United States plans to provide $52 million in security assistance to Colombia, Panama, Peru and Ecuador as President Donald Trump expands efforts to combat organized crime and drug trafficking in Latin America.

The U.S. State Department notified Congress on Tuesday that the countries will receive Foreign Military Financing, which allows them to purchase military equipment from U.S. defense contractors.

According to the Associated Press, the State Department said the funding will help “combat narcoterrorism in our backyard and help continue to secure the Panama Canal.”

The announcement follows a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to South America last week, where he met with leaders in Colombia, Peru and Ecuador to strengthen security partnerships and discuss potential trade agreements.

The Trump administration has sought to increase U.S. involvement in Latin America under what it calls the “Donroe Doctrine,” emphasizing the Western Hemisphere as a U.S. sphere of influence while seeking to counter the influence of countries such as China and Russia.

 The four countries receiving the latest assistance have also joined the Shield of the Americas, a U.S.-led security alliance focused on combating transnational crime through intelligence sharing and military cooperation.

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