Chile will not yet sign up to the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition (A3C), the military alliance against drug trafficking promoted by Donald Trump's government. Interior Undersecretary Máximo Pavez is attending the group's third meeting in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday, October 27, but as an observer, according to El País and El Mostrador. "Chile is not going to sign yet," government spokesman Gonzalo Arenas said on Monday.
The decision followed a meeting on Sunday, October 25, between President José Antonio Kast and the ministers of the Interior, Foreign Affairs, Defense and Public Security that did not settle the matter, according to BioBioChile. At the time of writing, the outcome of the Dominican Republic meeting, which seeks to sign a governance framework and a joint strategic plan, was not known.
What the Counter-Cartel Coalition (A3C) is
| Aspect | What is known |
|---|---|
| Name | Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition (A3C); BioBioChile calls it the Coalition of the Americas against Criminal Organizations |
| Promoter | United States government (Donald Trump) |
| Stated goal | Fight drug trafficking and so-called narco-terrorism through cooperation and joint military operations |
| Members | 18 countries; neither Mexico nor Brazil is a member |
| Military structure | Relies on the Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM), activated by Southern Command on August 4 |
| Meetings | Panama (previous) and the Dominican Republic (October 26-27, 2026, the third) |
Sources: El País, El Mostrador and BioBioChile. El País reports that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described that task force as "the operational arm of Southern Command" and called the alliance an "effective and lethal coalition".
The A3C is not the Shield of the Americas
Chile already joined the Shield of the Americas, another Washington initiative, in September. They are different bodies, although US sources quoted by El País say they are complementary:
| Shield of the Americas | Counter-Cartel Coalition (A3C) | |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Political and economic | Military |
| Chile | Joined in September 2026 | Observer; has not signed |
| What it covers | Economic cooperation, investment screening and critical-mineral supply chains, per the State Department declaration | Cooperation and joint military operations against criminal organizations |
| Chilean government's view | "A political declaration", not a treaty | Reviewing "new information" and wants to consult Congress |
Source: El País. Joining the Shield drew opposition criticism over its scope; the government argued it is not a treaty and does not compromise sovereignty.
Why Chile has not signed the Counter-Cartel Coalition
The government gave three public reasons. Arenas said the executive received "new information" last week and wants to share it with other ministries and lawmakers: "It is a matter of state and the government wants all political actors to take part." He added there are doubts over whether the document is an international treaty and that, even if it is not, Congress's participation "is essential". Pavez said Kast preferred to send a political undersecretary while no decision is made, and Defense Minister Fernando Barros favors remaining an observer until the Dominican Republic agreements are known.
The underlying concern, according to BioBioChile, is joint operations and their implications for sovereignty. At the Panama meeting, Hegseth asked members to leave the International Criminal Court, invest "considerably" in defense, and praised joint operations with Ecuador, Honduras and Guatemala. US government sources told El País that the current draft does not create a multinational command, does not compromise sovereignty, no longer requires more defense spending and lets each country choose what it joins.
Who is pushing to join and who urges caution
| Actor | Position | Quote or argument |
|---|---|---|
| Guillermo Ramírez, UDI party president | Join | It would be a "mistake to stay out of this alliance against organized crime" |
| Arturo Squella, Republican Party president | Join | The decision is the President's, but staying out would be "especially delicate" |
| Fernando Barros, Defense Minister | Observer for now | Wait for the Dominican Republic agreements |
| Gonzalo Arenas, government spokesman | Do not sign yet | Review new information and consult Congress |
Sources: El País and El Mostrador. Arenas became spokesman this month: see who Gonzalo Arenas is. The government's political backdrop, with 29% approval according to Cadem, is in the latest Cadem poll.
What comes next
- Dominican Republic: the October 26-27 meeting is due to approve the governance framework and strategic plan. Its final content will shape Chile's decision.
- Congress: the government said it will share the information with lawmakers. There is no date for a decision.
- Treaty or not: if the document were considered an international treaty, the Constitution requires congressional approval before ratification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the A3C?
The Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition, a US-promoted alliance to fight drug trafficking through cooperation and joint military operations. It has 18 members.
Is Chile part of the Counter-Cartel Coalition?
No. It takes part as an observer. The government said on October 26 that "Chile is not going to sign yet".
Who represents Chile in the Dominican Republic?
Interior Undersecretary Máximo Pavez, as an observer.
Which countries are not in the A3C?
According to El País and El Mostrador, neither Mexico nor Brazil.
Is it the same as the Shield of the Americas?
No. The Shield is a political and economic initiative Chile joined in September; the A3C is military.
