WASHINGTON, September 16, 2026: The Trump administration has announced plans to redirect $52 million in U.S. military assistance from several countries in Europe and the Middle East to partner nations in Central and South America.

The funding will be redirected from Slovakia, North Macedonia, Tunisia and Iraq to Panama, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, according to the Associated Press. 

U.S. officials said the move reflects a greater focus on security priorities in the Western Hemisphere, including efforts to combat drug trafficking, strengthen regional security and protect strategic interests around the Panama Canal.

The administration has also emphasized closer security cooperation with Latin American countries as part of its broader foreign-policy approach.

The announcement comes as the United States continues to reassess its overseas military assistance and defense priorities amid ongoing conflicts and security challenges around the world.