Colombia formally joined the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C) on Aug. 12, a US-led regional initiative under the rubric of the so-called “Shield of the Americas.” US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that new far-right President Abelardo de la Espriella had authorized joint “counter-terrorism” operations, a move that opens the door to US-led strikes on Colombian territory, which Hegseth said has already been discussed. De la Esp…