Hegseth hosts inaugural Americas Counter Cartel Conference at SouthCom in Doral

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Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will host the inaugural Americas Counter Cartel Conference on Thursday at the U.S. Southern Command headquarters in Doral.

Officials said in an advisory that "like-minded regional defense and security leaders" from the Caribbean and Central and South America would attend.

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"For decades and across many administrations, narco-terrorists and cartel thugs have trafficked fentanyl and other deadly drugs freely across borders, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans every year," the media announcement reads in part. "Under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, the Department is uniting partners across the Western Hemisphere to detect, disrupt, and destroy designated terrorist organizations that fuel violence and corruption."

Delegates from 18 countries are expected to attend the conference. Nations not invited include Colombia, Brazil, Nicaragua and Mexico.

Speakers will also include U.S. Southern Command Gen. Francis Donovan, Homeland Security Advisory Stephen Miller and Assistant Secretary of Defense Joseph Humire.

Hegseth will later travel to Tampa, Florida, to visit U.S. Central Command Headquarters.

*This is a developing story. Refresh for updates. *