US President Donald Trump announced that the United States will create a new military coalition in North and South America to combat drug cartels, TASS news agency reports.
''But on this historic day, we gather to announce a new military coalition to eradicate the criminal cartels that terrorize our region“, he said at the ''Shield of America'' summit in Doral, Florida.
''We need your help. You just have to tell us where they are. We have incredible weapons, as you've probably noticed lately,' he added, addressing leaders of other countries in the region.
His speech at the 'Shield of the Americas' summit was broadcast on the White House YouTube channel.
'We've stepped up the fight against drugs coming by sea - maritime drug trafficking has decreased by 96%. We're trying to figure out who the other four percent are, because I think they must be the bravest people in the world, or maybe they just don't watch TV,' Trump added.
Earlier it was reported that Washington and Quito had conducted a joint operation against drug traffickers in northeastern Ecuador, near the border with Colombia. Helicopters, planes, riverboats and drones were used in the fighting. The target was a training camp for the Colombian group ''Comandos de la Frontera'' (CDF), formed by FARC dissidents.