Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has signed up Trinidad and Tobago to a historic hemispheric shield, led by the United States in its campaign against drug cartels and in safeguarding the Americas from external threats.

With Persad-Bissessar at his side, United States President Donald Trump yesterday signed a proclamation committing to the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition—focused on using force to deal with criminal cartels—at the Shield of the Americas summit at Trump National Doral golf course resort in Miami.

Persad-Bissessar was the only woman leader among the invited heads, which included about a dozen leaders from South and Central America.