Gen. Francis Donovan, the newly appointed Commander of U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), participated in the inaugural Western Hemisphere Chiefs of Defense Conference from February 10–11 in Washington, D.C. Hosted by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, the conference brought together Chiefs of Defense and senior military representatives from 34 nations to discuss shared security priorities and challenges in the Western Hemisphere.
This unprecedented event marked a milestone in regional defense cooperation, providing a platform for military leaders to exchange perspectives, align strategies, and strengthen relationships in support of a stable, secure, and prosperous hemisphere.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth gave the opening remarks where he stressed the importance of restoring American strength in the hemisphere through shared priorities and common interests with regional partners, including drug trafficking, organized crime, and broader issues affecting regional stability. General Caine highlighted the importance of trust and collaboration in advancing collective security.
"Building trust, deepening relationships, and working together are essential to achieving lasting security across the hemisphere," Gen. Caine said.
As the new commander of USSOUTHCOM, Gen. Donovan outlined his overarching priorities for the command’s area of responsibility, highlighting the importance of an integrated military-to-military approach. He stressed the need for ongoing engagement, strong partnerships, and unified action to address shared threats and strengthen regional security.
"SOUTHCOM is a warfighting organization, and we are charged with defending the southern approaches to our homeland and ensuring security, stability, and prosperity in the Western Hemisphere," Gen. Donovan said. "But I believe, and our National Defense Strategy affirms, that the most effective way to achieve this is by working together with our partner nations in the region to counter shared threats."
Gen. Donovan also addressed the activities of narco-terrorist organizations, which he described as a major threat to regional security.
“Narco-terrorist organizations traffic in drugs, weapons, and human beings, while engaging in illegal mining, logging, and fishing — activities that fuel corruption and instability, erode the sovereignty of our partner nations, and threaten our shared security,” he said. “The most effective way to defeat them is by sharing the burden of that defense with our allies and partners.”
Operation Southern Spear and Multilateral Efforts
Highlighting USSOUTHCOM’s recent successes, Gen. Donovan pointed to Operation Southern Spear as an example of taking the fight directly to narco-terrorist networks.
"Our recent operations during Operation Southern Spear have sent an unmistakable message: the commons will not be a sanctuary for the shared adversaries of our nations," he said.
He also emphasized the importance of multilateral efforts and working "by, with, and through" partner nations to build upon existing relationships and defeat common threats.
"Lasting security comes from strong partnerships,” Gen. Donovan added. “SOUTHCOM's multilateral efforts are the cornerstone of our approach. We are actively strengthening and expanding our partnerships to counter our common threats."
A Unified Approach to Regional Security
The Western Hemisphere Chiefs of Defense Conference provided an opportunity for military leaders to align their strategies and reinforce their commitment to shared security. Discussions focused on addressing transnational criminal organizations, drug trafficking, and other challenges that threaten regional stability.
Gen. Donovan’s participation in the conference underscored USSOUTHCOM’s dedication to working collaboratively with partner nations to build a secure and prosperous future for the hemisphere.
USSOUTHCOM is one of the nation’s six geographically focused unified commands with responsibility for U.S. military operations in the Caribbean, Central America and South America, as well as security cooperation with defense and public-security forces in the region.