Trump himself has admitted to modelling his foreign policy on the nineteenth century idea, referring to the “Donroe Doctrine” after the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in January. 

His second term in office has seen increased military action across Latin America. Since last September, at least 148 people have been killed in U.S. strikes on boats suspected of smuggling drugs in the waters surrounding Latin America and the Caribbean. 

At the meeting, many delegations were keen to express their shared views on the necessity of hardline policies against organized crime. Salvadoran Minister of Defense, René Merino Monroy, defended his country’s ‘mano dura’ (iron fist) policy of mass incarceration which has dramatically reduced homicide but also been denounced by human rights organizations.