U.S. Southern Command activated Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) Aug. 4, 2026, a purpose-built, joint task force that will synchronize U.S. military operations with allies and partners to counter threats, strengthen regional security, and respond rapidly to crises across the Western Hemisphere. SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan directed the activation of JTF-WHEM, which provides unified command and control at the tactical and operational levels, integrating military capabilities with the 18 partner nations of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C) to increase operational effectiveness against threats that undermine regional security and impact the United States and partner nations. The task force also...
