Washington, D.C. — The Trump administration’s actions across the Western Hemisphere are dangerous, unlawful, and risk leading us into a regional war. Since September, the administration has carried out more than 20 lethal strikes on boats in international waters, killing at least 87 people.
Contrary to U.S. and international law, the administration has claimed the United States is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels and has resisted calls to share more information with Congress and the American people. The Trump administration also has deployed a significant U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, threatening military action within Venezuela.
This conversation brings together leading experts to discuss the national security and legal risks of the administration’s strikes and the far-reaching consequences this could have for our democracy, as well as to outline what a responsible, stabilizing approach to the region should look like.
Please join the Center for American Progress for a timely dialogue on how the United States should navigate this moment—and what’s at stake if we fail to course-correct.
WHO
Opening remarks:
Laura Rodriguez, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs, Center for American Progress
Expert panel:
Tess Bridgeman, Co-Editor-in-Chief of Just Security; former Deputy Legal Adviser to the National Security Council
Jon Finer, Distinguished Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress; former Deputy National Security Adviser
Frank Kendall, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress; former Secretary of the Air Force
Dan Restrepo, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress
Moderated by:
Damian Murphy, Senior Vice President, National Security and International Policy, Center for American Progress
WHEN:
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET
You must RSVP to this link to watch the event online via Zoom.
For more information, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].