Exclusive: US military moving drones to South America ahead of anticipated counternarcotics operations
- Posted on September 18, 2026
- By CNN
- 1 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
The United States military is strategically repositioning advanced MQ-9 Reaper drone assets from African operations to South American command structures, signaling an intensified commitment to regional security initiatives. This redeployment represents a broader Pentagon strategy to strengthen military cooperation and enhance surveillance capabilities across Latin America, with officials emphasizing focus on combating organized drug trafficking and terrorist networks threatening hemispheric stability.
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Exclusive: US military moving drones to South America ahead of anticipated counternarcotics operations
The US military is expected to send MQ-9 Reaper drones operating over Africa to the US command responsible for South America, six sources familiar with the planning told CNN, part of a wave of military equipment that has moved to the region as US officials trumpet military partnerships for anticipated counternarcotics and counterterror operations.
