The U.S. military is deploying a new autonomous warfare command across Latin America that will use unmanned systems and artificial intelligence throughout the region, raising questions about oversight and the expanding military footprint in countries facing complex social and economic challenges. U.S. Southern Command commander Gen. Francis Donovan said same day he ordered the creation of the SOUTHCOM Autonomous Warfare Command to support national security priorities and regional efforts, marking a first-of-its-kind move by a combatant command.
SOUTHCOM said the new command will employ "autonomous, semi-autonomous, and unmanned platforms and systems to counter threats and challenges across domains, linking tactical missions to long-term strategic effects." Donovan said, "From the seafloor to space and across the cyber domain, we fully intend to leverage the clear superiority of the American defense ecosystem by deploying cutting-edge innovation and working ever closer with our enduring partners in the region to outmatch those who threaten our collective peace and security."
Missions and Regional Scope
The Autonomous Warfare Command, or SAWC, will work with U.S. allies in the region and advance missions including targeting narcoterrorist and cartel networks and responding to large-scale natural disasters. SOUTHCOM is responsible for military operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean, including counter-narcotics missions aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks that threaten U.S. interests. The U.S. military has carried out dozens of strikes in recent months on suspected drug-smuggling vessels as part of a broader campaign to dismantle cartel-linked trafficking operations.
Donovan said the region is well-suited for innovation and collaboration with partners. He said, "Our geographic area of responsibility has a wide range of conditions, varied terrain, and diverse operational environments that make it an ideal setting in which to innovate. It is also a region with very capable and committed security partners who lean forward, embrace technologies and are very eager to work collaboratively with us to support regional stability in new and effective ways."
Technology Integration and Congressional Testimony
In a written posture statement to Congress this year, Donovan said he aimed to leverage emerging technologies, telling lawmakers he intended "to capitalize on next generation capabilities like unmanned platforms, AI integration, and commercial tools to better enable us and our partners to counter … threats together." One month ago, Donovan told an Armed Services Committee member he aimed to build cost-effective, modernized forces for SOUTHCOM's mission, including autonomous systems and human-machine teaming, "to greatly increase lethality, all-domain awareness, and data sharing for U.S. and partner forces."
SOUTHCOM said it will work with the military services and the War Department's Defense Autonomous Warfare Group, or DAWG, to identify capabilities needed for the new command to begin operations and integrate into its mission. The command represents an expansion of autonomous military technology into a region where many countries face challenges related to poverty, inequality, and governance issues that contribute to instability and migration pressures.
Why This Matters:
The deployment of autonomous warfare systems across Latin America represents a significant expansion of U.S. military technology in a region where the root causes of instability—including economic inequality, lack of opportunity, and weak institutions—often require investments in development and governance rather than military solutions. While the command will target drug trafficking networks, the decades-long war on drugs has shown that military approaches alone cannot address the complex social and economic factors that fuel the narcotics trade. The use of AI-enabled and unmanned systems raises questions about accountability, civilian oversight, and the potential for unintended consequences in countries where U.S. military operations have historically generated controversy. As autonomous weapons systems become more prevalent, the need for transparent rules of engagement, human oversight, and respect for sovereignty becomes increasingly urgent to ensure military technology serves broader security and human rights goals in the region.