Senate Defense Bill Shines Spotlight on Latin America

Last month, the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) adopted its version of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Under the leadership of Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS), the SASC bill makes important strides in strengthening hemispheric defense. By putting additional focus on national security threats in Latin America, the Senate version of the NDAA would deliver long-overdue congressional defense attention on this critical region.

While some aspects of the Administration’s approach to the region have been controversial in Congress, such as strikes on alleged drug boats, the SASC bill signals bipartisan support for a more active Department of War role in countering narco-terrorist groups and U.S. adversaries in Latin America.

Additionally, the bill bolsters ongoing operations against narco-terrorist groups in Mexico and other partner countries. Section 1267 authorizes the Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel (JIATF-CC), which DoW established in January 2026 to coordinate U.S. counter-cartel activities at the U.S.-Mexico border and cooperation with Mexico. This authorization would formalize JIATF-CC's mission, cooperation with other agencies and departments, and annual reporting for Congress on its operations. There is also a requirement for a DoW report assessing the capabilities and illicit activities of drug cartels, with a focus on their military-like capabilities. This public assessment would be helpful to policymakers given the hundreds of FPV drone attacks against security forces by cartels in Mexico and Colombia in recent years.

Another gap addressed by SASC is the decline in U.S. jungle warfare cooperation with regional partners. Improving the ability of U.S. and partner forces to operate in jungle environments is necessary to address the proliferation of armed criminal groups, and this capacity has atrophied since the Cold War. A provision in the bill requires U.S. Southern Command to conduct a feasibility study on establishing recurring, multinational jungle warfare exercises with South American partners. The Pentagon recently restarted jungle training in Panama for U.S. forces for the first time in decades, and this provision would take an important step to build on that progress.

Finally, the Senate bill tackles U.S. strategic interests in Latin America. Section 1261 requires DoW and other national security agencies to develop a “comprehensive strategy for advancing United States interests in the Western Hemisphere.” The language directs DoW to focus the strategy on addressing the threats posed by regional actors and U.S. adversaries, such as China, Russia, and Iran, and DoW’s role in supporting overall U.S. strategy in the region. The bill also singles out the regional threat posed by the Cuban regime. Havana’s military and intelligence activities in the region directly threaten U.S. national security and provide China and Russia with intelligence and other valuable forms of cooperation. SASC directs the Pentagon and other agencies to provide Congress with a comprehensive report on this threat.

As the NDAA moves forward in both chambers, Congress should preserve and build on these initiatives to advance U.S. security in our own backyard.

Connor Pfeiffer is senior director of government relations at FDD Action and a former policy advisor in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives who focused on Western Hemisphere and international economic issues. He can be found on X @ConnorPfeiffer.