Below are some of the key highlights from President Donald Trump’s speech at the Shield of the Americas Summit on March 7.

Rebuilding the Military and Operations in Iran

In his March 7 speech, Trump said he had spent his entire first term rebuilding the U.S. military into the strongest force in the world. He cited recent military operations in Iran, claiming that within three days the United States had destroyed 42 Iranian naval vessels, along with elements of its air force and telecommunications systems.

“We’re getting very good results in Iran. In just three days, we disabled 42 of their naval vessels, some of them very large. That essentially ended their naval capability. We also took down Iran’s air force and destroyed their communications systems; their entire telecommunications network has been paralyzed. I’m not sure how they are communicating now, but they’ll probably find a way, although clearly things are not going smoothly for them,” Trump said.

Preventing a Global Nuclear Threat

Trump also stressed that the “Midnight Hammer” operation, carried out by B-2 bombers, had prevented Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons—an action he described as “a good thing for the world.”

When asked to rate the strike on a scale of 0 to 10, Trump replied: “Probably a 15, if 10 is the highest. It had to be done, and we’re doing it very well.”

He argued that Iran’s leadership would certainly use nuclear weapons if they possessed them.
“They were very close to having nuclear weapons… They might have had them eight months ago if we hadn’t carried out the ‘Midnight Hammer’ strike with B-2 bombers,” he said.

Shifting Strategic Focus to the Western Hemisphere

Trump expressed a desire to end what he described as America’s excessive focus on wars thousands of miles away and instead prioritize stability and development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

He criticized previous administrations for neglecting close neighbors while becoming deeply involved in distant regions where the United States was not welcome.

“I see our region as incredibly important, yet for many years it has been neglected by the United States. Previous administrations went too far, getting involved in very distant places—even places where they weren’t welcomed,” he said.

At the summit, Trump also extended special appreciation to leaders from across the Western Hemisphere, referring to them as “friends” and “close allies.” He said their presence marked a new chapter in regional military and security cooperation aimed at eliminating criminal gangs.

“I want to thank the members of this coalition, most of whom are my friends… I supported many of them, and they used that support to achieve big victories,” Trump said.

Launch of a “Military Alliance Against Drug Cartels in the Americas”

At the Shield of the Americas Summit, Trump and leaders from 17 other countries announced a new military alliance aimed at eliminating transnational criminal gangs.

The alliance’s goal is to restore order, security, and the rule of law across the region.

“On this historic day, we are announcing a brand-new military alliance to wipe out the criminal gangs that are wreaking havoc in our region,” Trump declared.

He noted that maritime drug interdiction efforts had already achieved significant results, reducing trafficking by as much as 96%, and said the new alliance would intensify such operations.

Trump also pledged that the United States is ready to support its allies with powerful military force, including precision missile strikes against cartel leaders in their strongholds.

“The core of this agreement is a commitment to use lethal military force to destroy vicious gangs and terrorist networks once and for all,” he said.

Strengthening Border Security and Fighting Drugs

Trump provided detailed remarks on border security and anti-drug efforts, calling them a critical battle to protect Americans from criminal networks and dangerous narcotics.

He sharply criticized the “open border” policies of previous administrations, claiming they had allowed at least 25 million people to enter the United States.

According to Trump, many of those migrants included gang members, murderers, and individuals released from prisons, psychiatric institutions, or refugee camps.

Trump asserted that he had built the strongest border in U.S. history, saying that over the past nine months almost no one had been able to cross illegally.

“We went from the worst border in history to the strongest border ever,” he declared.

He also reported that fentanyl smuggling across the border had dropped by 67% during the first year of his tougher enforcement measures.

The “Donroe Doctrine” to Block External Influence

Trump also introduced the “Donroe Doctrine,” a modern adaptation of the Monroe Doctrine that emphasizes military strength and close cooperation within the Western Hemisphere.

The name “Donroe” combines “Donald” and “Monroe.” U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said that while previous administrations focused on distant borders, the new doctrine places America’s policy focus on its own region and the Western Hemisphere.

Trump said the doctrine would be implemented to protect regional sovereignty and independence while preventing hostile external powers from gaining influence.

“With this new doctrine, we will not allow hostile foreign powers to establish a foothold in the Western Hemisphere,” he said.

He added that this includes protecting strategic sites such as the Panama Canal from outside interference.

New Economic Cooperation with Venezuela

Trump also referenced the military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro during an 18-minute precision raid that he said caused no U.S. casualties or equipment losses.

Following the change in government, the United States officially recognized the new administration led by Delcy Rodriguez and reached historic economic agreements involving oil and gold extraction.

According to Trump, the cooperation is generating unprecedented profits for Venezuela.

“We’ve also reached a historic gold deal with Venezuela, allowing our two countries to cooperate in facilitating the sale of Venezuela’s gold and other minerals,” he announced.

Trump added that Rodriguez is doing “a fantastic job,” thanks to close coordination with Washington and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Cuba’s Situation and Prospects for New Talks

Trump also addressed Cuba’s current difficulties following the loss of oil and financial support from Venezuela.

He said the Cuban government is now seeking negotiations and has already begun discussions with him and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Trump expressed optimism that an agreement could be reached “very easily,” bringing what he described as a “great new life” to the island.