Shield of the Americas bloc adopts US narco-terror list; Brazil and Mexico stay out

Reported: At a 22 September meeting on the UN General Assembly sidelines, President Trump urged the 15-member Shield of the Americas coalition to "formally designate narco-terrorists as common threats to stability and apply crushing sanctions" to 24 criminal groups, which he called the "ISIS of the Western Hemisphere" (Al Jazeera). Brazil and Mexico are not members. Lula warned against "renewed hegemonic temptations", saying "Brazil is nobody's back yard." Al Jazeera's correspondent called the declaration "largely symbolic for now", since each state must run its own legal process before freezes or sanctions. The Rio Times reports the named groups include Brazil's PCC and Comando Vermelho, and that Chile moved from observer to member (Rio Times).

What it changes (interpretation): Washington now has a multilateral cover for extraterritorial pressure on groups based in non-member states. For Brasília, whose domestic gangs are listed, the cost is partner compliance checks on Brazilian firms and a sovereignty fight during its October campaign.