Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks to senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Va., on Sept. 30, 2025. Andrew Harnik /Pool via Reuters
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on Oct. 10 that President Donald Trump has directed the creation of a new counter-narcotics joint task force in the Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility.
The SOUTHCOM oversees U.S. military operations in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean Sea. The joint command has more than 1,200 military and civilian personnel.
