SOUTHCOM Commander's Imperatives

 

SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan has developed four imperatives to posture the U.S. military to confront the threats facing the Western Hemisphere.

 

1. Strengthen hemispheric command and control. 

2. Impose total systemic friction on drug cartels and terrorist organizations. 

3. Develop and field cost-effective, modernized forces tailored for the mission. 

4. Deny adversary footholds and undue influence in the Western Hemisphere. 

 

Key SOUTHCOM missions and initiatives:

Countering Narcoterrorism and Cartels

Denying Malign Influence and Securing the Hemisphere

Innovating for Today’s Challenges

Strengthening Defense and Security Partnerships in the Western Hemisphere

Advancing Space and Cyber Defense in the Western Hemisphere

State Partnership Program in Latin America and the Caribbean

Foreign Disaster Relief

Military Information Support Operations

SOUTHCOM logo2026 Posture Statement to Congress (PDF)

Marine Gen. Francis L. Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command, testified before the House Armed Services Committee March 17, 2026, as part of the command’s annual Posture Statement to Congress.

2026 Posture Statement info page with video, articles and documents