Trump Gathers 12 Right-Wing Latin American Leaders in Miami

Regional summit in Miami called by Trump

Latin American leaders arrive in Miami

Chinese influence worries Washington

A summit convened by U.S. President Donald Trump with 12 right-wing Latin American leaders began Saturday in Miami.

The invited leaders started arriving early in the day to participate in the meeting called “Shield of the Americas.”

The event is being held at Trump National Doral Miami, a golf resort owned by the U.S. president.

Shield of the Americas summit brings together Trump and Washington’s allies

“Trump’s summit with right-wing Latin American presidents begins in Miami.” https://t.co/E5cDYFjPLq

— EFE Noticias (@EFEnoticias) March 7, 2026

The meeting aims to consolidate Washington’s leadership in Latin America, according to EFE.

It also seeks to counter China’s growing influence in the region.

The gathering brings together presidents and political leaders considered allies of the U.S. administration.

First invited leaders arrive

“Breaking news | ‘Shield of the Americas’: Donald Trump’s summit with Latin American presidents begins in Miami.”
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— AlbertoRodNews (@AlbertoRodNews) March 7, 2026

The first leaders to arrive at the Trump Shield of the Americas summit were José Raúl Mulino and Chile’s president-elect José Antonio Kast.

Kast will officially assume the Chilean presidency next Wednesday.

Also attending were Kamla Persad‑Bissessar and Nasry Asfura.

Other regional leaders later arrived.

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Among them were Rodrigo Paz and Daniel Noboa.

The list of attendees also includes Rodrigo Chaves Robles.

Also participating is Argentina’s president Javier Milei.

They are joined by Luis Abinader and Irfaan Ali.

Also attending are Santiago Peña and Nayib Bukele.

The meeting gathers leaders from several Latin American countries politically aligned with Washington.

Trump’s agenda and the regional context

Trump is expected to deliver a speech to attendees during the Shield of the Americas summit.

However, the president shortened his participation in the event.

He is scheduled to travel later Saturday to Dover Air Force Base.

There, the bodies of six U.S. service members killed in the war with Iran will arrive.

During the day, the Latin American leaders will also attend a working lunch.

The meeting will be held with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The summit did not include several progressive leaders from Latin America’s largest economies.

Countries absent from the meeting include Brazil and Mexico.

The government of Colombia was also not invited.

The Shield of the Americas summit comes as an alternative forum amid geopolitical tensions

The Shield of the Americas is presented as a parallel summit of leaders aligned with Washington.

The meeting emerges alongside the traditional Summit of the Americas.

That forum was created in 1994 to periodically gather heads of state from across the continent.

The most recent edition was canceled last year due to disagreements among its members.

The meeting in Miami was organized before the start of the war with Iran.

It also comes after the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces in Venezuela in January.

The summit also coincides with tensions between Washington and Cuba.

Those frictions stem from an energy blockade imposed on the island.

At the same time, the event occurs amid U.S. pressure to counter China’s influence in Latin America.

These actions include pressure on the Panama Canal to distance itself from companies based in Hong Kong.

They also include sanctions against three Chilean officials related to the potential construction of a fiber-optic cable project with China.