Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety, and economic prosperity.
On behalf of the American people, we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.
The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President's chief foreign affairs adviser.
The Secretary carries out the President's foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service, and U.S. Agency for International Development.
Who Attended the Shield of the Americas Summit?
The Shield of the Americas Summit, held on March 7, 2026, in Doral, Florida, was attended by President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and leaders from twelve Latin American and Caribbean nations
These nations included
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Guyana
Honduras
Panama
Paraguay
Trinidad and Tobago
This gathering focused on promoting freedom, security, and prosperity in the Western Hemisphere and was primarily composed of leaders aligned with the Trump administration’s policies.
Key U.S. officials also attended the summit, including
Secretary of State Marco Rubio
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem
Energy Secretary Chris Wright
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
Kristi Noem also participated in her new capacity as the special envoy for the Shield of the Americas.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller were also present at related events leading up to the summit.
Among the specific leaders mentioned as attendees were
Argentine President Javier Milei, who met with President Trump
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña.
Other leaders who were expected to participate or were confirmed to attend included
Nayib Bukele
Daniel Noboa
Luis Abinader
Rodrigo Chaves Robles
Chile’s President-elect José Antonio Kast
The summit aimed to strengthen coordination on regional policies concerning security, migration, and combating drug trafficking.
