--- title: "Colombia requests US military collaboration against 'narco-terrorism' under de la Espriella" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/colombia-requests-us-military-collaboration-against-narco-terrorism-under-de-la" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/colombia-requests-us-military-collaboration-against-narco-terrorism-under-de-la" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/colombia-requests-us-military-collaboration-against-narco-terrorism-under-de-la.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/colombia-requests-us-military-collaboration-against-narco-terrorism-under-de-la" category: "Conflict & Security" area: "Latin America" published: "2026-08-13T02:05:22.554Z" source_reported: "2026-08-12T23:44:00.000Z" updated: "2026-08-13T02:05:22.554Z" trust_score: 74 critic_score: 58 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-13T03:15:07.835916+00:00" --- # Colombia requests US military collaboration against 'narco-terrorism' under de la Espriella *Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announces joint operations and Colombia’s membership in the 'Shield of the Americas' initiative* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 74 of 100, higher is better. Multiple outlets corroborate Hegseth's statement. - Craft 58 of 100, higher is better. Lack of direct quotes from Colombian president. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. Measured language in most reports. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Colombia’s government, led by President Abelardo de la Espriella, has formally requested US military collaboration in joint operations against 'narco-terrorism'. - The US and Colombia will participate in the 'Shield of the Americas' initiative, making Colombia its 19th member. - US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Latin American countries to reject the International Criminal Court, citing US military strikes in the region. - De la Espriella’s predecessor, Gustavo Petro, was not invited to the March summit that launched the initiative. Colombia’s newly inaugurated President Abelardo de la Espriella has requested US collaboration in joint military operations to combat what US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth called 'narco-terrorism'. The request was announced during a meeting of the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition in Panama on 12 August 2026. Hegseth also confirmed that Colombia would join the 'Shield of the Americas' initiative, becoming its 19th member. The initiative was launched at a March summit attended by US President Donald Trump and Latin American leaders, though Colombia’s then-President Gustavo Petro was not invited. De la Espriella, known as 'El Tigre', has previously stated his administration would join the US-led effort. Separately, Hegseth urged the nearly 20 countries present to abandon the International Criminal Court, arguing that US military strikes against suspected drug traffickers in the region are 'entirely legal under international humanitarian law'. The Trump administration is pushing a campaign to dismantle the court, citing arrest warrants issued against Israeli officials and investigations into US personnel in Afghanistan. ## What the coverage left out None of the centre-rated digests mentioned Hegseth’s call for Latin American countries to reject the International Criminal Court. The right-rated digest did not include Colombia’s membership in the 'Shield of the Americas' initiative or the US push against the court. ## Who covered it Shares of the 19 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 58% (11) - Centre: 31% (6) - Right: 11% (2) 2 of 21 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-13T03:15:07.835916+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 9 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-13T04:15:06.551Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The 11 left-rated digests and two full reports led on Colombia’s request for US military collaboration and its membership in the 'Shield of the Americas' initiative. The Associated Press and Washington Top News, whose full reports were printed, both quoted Hegseth’s reference to de la Espriella as 'President El Tigre', a nickname used by Trump. Both also included Hegseth’s call for Latin American countries to reject the International Criminal Court. - Le Monde’s digest framed the agreement as allowing Washington to 'accelerate its fight against drug trafficking in Latin America'. Colombia Reports and Infobae, in their digests, used the verb 'authorised' to describe de la Espriella’s request for joint operations. None of the left-rated digests omitted the US push against the International Criminal Court. ### Centre - The five centre-rated digests all carried the core announcement: Colombia’s request for US collaboration in joint military operations and its membership in the 'Shield of the Americas'. The Ottumwa Courier’s digest included that the request was made during a meeting of the Americas Counter-Cartels Coalition in Panama. None of the centre-rated digests mentioned Hegseth’s remarks on the International Criminal Court. ### Right - The single right-rated digest, from the Washington Times, carried the announcement of Colombia’s request for US collaboration in joint military operations. It did not mention the 'Shield of the Americas' initiative or Hegseth’s remarks on the International Criminal Court. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 18 - unknown: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Sopitas.com](https://sopitas.com/noticias/colombia-autoriza-operaciones-militares-estados-unidos-narcotrafico) — Colombia Authorizes Joint Military Operations with the United States Against Drug Trafficking - [The Batesville Daily Guard](https://guardonline.com/news/world/hegseth-says-colombias-new-president-has-requested-us-collaboration-in-anti-drug-efforts/article_0c2d9d48-b233-50f9-8520-eef4482db873.html) — Hegseth says Colombia's new president has requested US collaboration in anti-drug efforts - [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/world/2026/08/hegseth-says-colombias-new-president-has-requested-us-collaboration-in-anti-drug-efforts) — Hegseth says Colombia’s new president has requested US collaboration in anti-drug efforts - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/world/hegseth-says-colombias-new-president-has-requested-us-collaboration-in-anti-drug-efforts) — Hegseth says Colombia’s new president has requested US collaboration in anti-drug efforts - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/08/12/hegseth-says-colombias-new-president-has-requested-us-collaboration-in-anti-drug-efforts) — Hegseth says Colombia's new president has requested US collaboration in anti-drug efforts - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/americas/hegseth-says-colombias-new-president-has-requested-us-collaboration-in-anti-drug-efforts/article_cc0b4be4-161e-53ea-a0e1-11977a3db5d4.html) — Hegseth says Colombia’s new president has requested US collaboration in anti-drug efforts - [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/news/world/americas/hegseth-says-colombias-new-president-has-requested-us-collaboration-in-anti-drug-efforts/article_98f7c1f6-3dc7-535f-a194-5b7a8856b757.html) — Hegseth says Colombia’s new president has requested US collaboration in anti-drug efforts - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-colombia-panama-cartels-b77cf42c8b2126283939611f5ec13af4) — Hegseth says Colombia's new president has requested US collaboration in anti-drug efforts - [Washington Times](https://washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/12/pete-hegseth-says-colombias-new-president-requested-us-collaboration) — Hegseth says Colombia’s new president has requested U.S. collaboration in anti-drug efforts - [WKMG](https://clickorlando.com/news/world/2026/08/12/hegseth-says-colombias-new-president-has-requested-us-collaboration-in-anti-drug-efforts) — Hegseth says Colombia's new president has requested US collaboration in anti-drug efforts - [Ottumwa Courier](https://ottumwacourier.com/news/national_news/hegseth-says-colombias-new-president-has-requested-us-collaboration-in-anti-drug-efforts/article_00d3304d-f7e3-5db6-ae9a-c40e9facfc97.html) — Hegseth says Colombia's new president has requested US collaboration in anti-drug efforts - [KPRC-TV](https://click2houston.com/news/world/2026/08/12/hegseth-says-colombias-new-president-has-requested-us-collaboration-in-anti-drug-efforts) — Hegseth says Colombia's new president has requested US collaboration in anti-drug efforts - [Le Monde](https://lemonde.fr/international/article/2026/08/13/la-colombie-autorise-des-operations-antidrogue-conjointes-avec-les-etats-unis_6745169_3210.html) — Colombia Authorizes Joint Anti-Drug Operations with the United States - [focoinformativo.site](https://focoinformativo.site/hegseth-aseguro-que-de-la-espriella-autorizo-operaciones-militares-con-eeuu-en-colombia) — Hegseth Said De La Espriella Authorized Military Operations with the U.S. in Colombia - [Colombia News | Colombia Reports](https://colombiareports.com/colombia-asked-us-to-carry-out-joint-military-operations-hegseth) — Colombia asked US to carry out joint military operations: Hegseth - [NBC New York](https://nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/colombia-president-us-collaboration-anti-drug-efforts/6536256) — Colombia's new president has requested U.S. support in anti-drug efforts, Hegseth says - [Infobae](https://infobae.com/america/agencias/2026/08/12/de-la-espriella-autoriza-operaciones-militares-con-eeuu-en-colombia-segun-hegseth) — De La Espriella Authorizes Military Operations with the U.S. in Colombia, According to Hegseth - [NBC Dallas-Fort Worth](https://nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/colombia-president-us-collaboration-anti-drug-efforts/4061789) — Colombia's new president has asked U.S. to join fight against 'narco-terrorism,' Hegseth says - [NBC Chicago](https://nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/colombia-president-us-collaboration-anti-drug-efforts/3974628) — Colombia's new president has asked the U.S. to join fight against 'narco-terrorism,' Hegseth says - [NBC LA](https://nbclosangeles.com/news/national-international/colombia-president-us-collaboration-anti-drug-efforts/3928844) — Colombia's new president has asked U.S. to join fight against 'narco-terrorism,' Hegseth says - [NBC Bay Area](https://nbcbayarea.com/news/national-international/colombia-president-us-collaboration-anti-drug-efforts/4127348) — Colombia's new president has asked U.S. to join fight against 'narco-terrorism,' Hegseth says ## Questions **What did Colombia request from the US?** Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella requested US collaboration in joint military operations to combat 'narco-terrorism', as announced by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. The request was made during a meeting of the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition in Panama on 12 August 2026. **What is the 'Shield of the Americas' initiative?** The 'Shield of the Americas' is an initiative launched at a March summit attended by US President Donald Trump and Latin American leaders. Colombia joined as its 19th member, following de la Espriella’s request for US military collaboration against drug cartels. **Why did Hegseth urge Latin American countries to reject the International Criminal Court?** Hegseth argued that US military strikes against suspected drug traffickers in the region are 'entirely legal under international humanitarian law'. The Trump administration is pushing to dismantle the court, citing arrest warrants against Israeli officials and investigations into US personnel in Afghanistan. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. 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