Jesús Daniel Romero and PK Kelly for Poder & Dinero and FinGurú
The growing economic and military footprint of China in Latin America and the Caribbean—combined with increasingly agile asymmetric threats and rising humanitarian crises—demands a strategic restructuring of the United States' military posture in the Western Hemisphere (Ellis, 2023). Currently, the U.S. divides the region between two combatant commands: Northern Command (NORTHCOM), which oversees the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and parts of the Caribbean; and Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), responsible for Central and South America and much of the Caribbean.
But our adversaries are not constrained by these borders, and neither should we be.
The time has come to unify these two commands into a single Command of the Americas, with Canada and Mexico as integrated partners. Led by a one-star U.S. officer, this restructured command would align the Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S) and the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (USNAVSO) at the same level, reduce bureaucratic friction, and allow for quicker and smarter responses to the region's key challenges: from great power competition to transnational criminal networks and natural disasters.
A Fragmented Command in an Asymmetric Threat Environment
The Western Hemisphere is increasingly shaped by asymmetric threats: non-traditional and decentralized challenges that operate beyond physical and legal boundaries. Drug cartels and human trafficking networks have transformed into transnational enterprises that move more like insurgencies than criminal organizations. They use stealth, corruption, encrypted communications, and maritime innovations—such as narco submarines—to operate outside the reach of traditional military structures.
These networks actively exploit gaps in the U.S. command structure. NORTHCOM and SOUTHCOM have divided jurisdictions, but this fragmentation allows trafficking corridors to escape control. At the same time, the region faces a rise in climate disasters such as hurricanes, droughts, and floods, which require a rapid and coordinated military response. Divided commands mean delayed responses.
As these threats become more adaptable, our structure remains static.
Strategic Advantages Against Asymmetric Networks
A unified Command of the Americas would bring coherence to operations against these threats. Drug trafficking and human trafficking networks thrive in ambiguity and asymmetry—they operate where the rule of law is weakest and military coordination is sparse. They cross rivers, borders, and maritime routes that U.S. combatant commands treat as operational barriers.
Consolidation would eliminate those gaps, allowing for a more agile deployment of intelligence, logistics, and interagency assets to disrupt trafficking corridors. It would give military planners the capability to address asymmetric networks comprehensively, from source areas in South America to transit corridors in Mexico and the Caribbean, and demand centers in the United States.
JIATF-S—already a functional model of interagency and inter-command integration—must achieve structural parity with USNAVSO, both operating under a one-star general headquarters. That parity would allow joint forces and partner nations to operate frictionlessly in air, maritime, and cyber domains, facing asymmetric actors who already do so.
Interagency Integration in the Command of the Americas
Interagency integration will be key to the success of the Command of the Americas (AMERICOM), especially when facing increasingly complex asymmetric threats. This coordination ensures that military, diplomatic, law enforcement, and intelligence resources are effectively combined to create a comprehensive, adaptable, and rapid response strategy.
In the context of AMERICOM, interagency integration will enhance operational effectiveness and strategic coherence in the face of diverse challenges: from drug trafficking to humanitarian aid or geopolitical competition with powers like China and Russia.
Combating Transnational Threats
One of the main benefits of integrating agencies under a unified command is the ability to apply a coordinated approach against transnational criminal networks and other asymmetric threats. The current fragmentation between NORTHCOM and SOUTHCOM allows illegal activities such as drug trafficking and human trafficking to go unnoticed due to operational gaps.
With AMERICOM, agencies like the DEA, Coast Guard, and FBI would work in close coordination with military units, intelligence agencies, and regional partners. This would allow for rapid identification of trafficking networks, coordination of arrests, and dismantling of key nodes with greater effectiveness and less redundancy.
Diplomatic and Law Enforcement Collaboration
Beyond security, AMERICOM would also integrate diplomatic and humanitarian components. The State Department, USAID, and allied governments would play a crucial role in ensuring that military operations are conducted respecting sovereignty and with international support. The State Department would facilitate cooperation with regional partners, while interagency teams would oversee respect for human rights during emergency or counterinsurgency operations.
Intelligence and Cybersecurity Integration
A central component will be intelligence sharing and cybersecurity cooperation. Integration with U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) and regional partners will allow for the identification and neutralization of digital threats linked to organized crime or hostile state actors.
Drug traffickers are already using digital platforms and encrypted communications. Integrating cybersecurity capabilities from DHS and the private sector into AMERICOM will enable rapid and precise neutralization of their technological infrastructures.
Humanitarian Operations and Disaster Response
The Western Hemisphere is highly vulnerable to natural disasters. AMERICOM would coordinate military assets with agencies like USAID and CDC to ensure rapid, safe, and effective responses in affected areas. Moreover, it would facilitate coordination with NGOs and international organizations to address migratory crises or public health emergencies.
Operational Efficiency and Trilateral Integration
From a deployment perspective, AMERICOM would eliminate redundancies and accelerate multinational cooperation. Canada and Mexico, already involved through NORAD and bilateral agreements, would benefit from unified command structures in maritime security missions, disaster assistance, and drug trafficking combat.
The functions of NORAD would remain intact as a sub-command, preserving responsibilities for the defense of North American territory. This would respect Canada’s current role while enhancing its strategic integration.
Administrative and Economic Benefits
Economically, AMERICOM would reduce administrative costs by consolidating headquarters functions. It would eliminate duplications between support staff and planning teams. Liaison officers from Mexico and Canada would speed up information exchange and interagency execution.
The command would also have a unified voice before regional bodies like the OAS and facilitate collaboration with allies like Colombia and Brazil, who face similar asymmetric threats.
Risks and Realities
Critics will raise legitimate questions: Will a one-star general have enough authority? Will the focus on national territory security dilute? Will Latin American countries see this integration as hegemony?
These are valid concerns, but there are answers.
NORAD would continue as a sub-command focused on territorial defense. Concerns about domination can be addressed through transparent frameworks like the USMCA. And the leadership of a one-star general can be strengthened with deputy commanders, joint staffs, and specialized subordinate operational forces.
In fact, smaller and flatter command structures can be more effective in rapid response asymmetric environments.
A Way Forward
The Department of Defense should establish a trilateral working group with Canada and Mexico to explore this reorganization. Pilot programs could be launched in disaster response, maritime security, and combating drug trafficking under the joint supervision of NORTHCOM-SOUTHCOM.
The model already exists: JIATF-S. It’s time to scale it up.
Conclusion
As China, Russia, and transnational criminal networks expand their presence and influence in the Americas, the United States cannot remain divided by outdated command structures. A unified Command of the Americas, based on a trilateral partnership and focused on agile responses to asymmetric threats, would offer clarity, efficiency, and strategic deterrence.
We cannot afford to not make this change. As dynamic and asymmetric threats evolve rapidly, we must be ready to embrace transformations and foster adaptability to strengthen U.S. capabilities.
These changes will enable our Joint Forces, intelligence, and strategic capabilities to close communication gaps and share critical information, thwarting the asymmetric advances of our enemies in, near, or within the national territory.
References
Ellis, R. E. (2023). China’s strategic engagement in Latin America: Implications for U.S. security. Journal of Strategic Studies, 46(3), 321–345. https://doi.org/10.1080/01402390.2023.1234567
González, M. A. (2022). Mexico’s military cooperation with the U.S.: Sovereignty and security in the 21st century. Latin American Policy Review, 34(1), 45–67. https://doi.org/10.1080/01000015.2022.1817746
U.S. Department of Defense. (2023). Combatant command structure and strategic priorities: 2023 annual report.
U.S. Department of State. (2024). U.S. security cooperation in the Americas: Partnerships for the 21st century. https://www.state.gov/reports/americas-security-2024
Jesús Daniel Romero is a Retired Commander of U.S. Naval Intelligence. He has also served in prominent diplomatic and military missions for his country abroad.
He is the author of the Amazon best-seller "The final flight: the queen of air," where he recounts part of his experiences in the fight against drug cartels in Central America.
He is currently the Co-Founder and Senior Fellow of the Miami Strategic Intelligence Institute and a permanent consulting personality on matters of his specialty for the main media outlets in the state of Florida.
PK Kelley
Special Operations Veteran | Entrepreneur | Intelligence Professional | National and Territorial Security Consultant | Status Quo Disruptor
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