The United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) established the Autonomous Warfare Command (SAWC) this Tuesday, a new high-tech unit based in Miami that will employ drones, artificial intelligence, and unmanned systems to counter threats in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
The order was issued by Marine General Francis L. Donovan, commander of SOUTHCOM, and directly addresses the national security priorities of the Trump administration and the operational dominance strategy of the Command in the Western Hemisphere.
According to the official statement, the SAWC will be dedicated to "employing autonomous, semi-autonomous, and unmanned platforms and systems to counter threats and challenges across all domains, linking tactical missions with long-term strategic effects."
The scope of the new command extends from the seabed to outer space and cyberspace.
In the words of Donovan himself: "From the depths of the sea to space and across the cyber domain, we fully intend to leverage the clear superiority of the U.S. defense ecosystem by deploying cutting-edge innovation and working increasingly closely with our longstanding partners in the region to outpace those who threaten our collective peace and security."
Among the declared missions of the SAWC are "to disrupt and degrade narcoterrorist and cartel networks," as well as to respond to crises caused by large-scale natural disasters.
The official statement also emphasizes the strategic value of the region for military innovation.
Donovan stated, "Our geographic area of responsibility encompasses a wide range of conditions, varied terrain, and diverse operational environments, making it an ideal setting for innovation. It is also a region with highly capable and committed security partners who embrace technology and are very willing to work collaboratively with us to support regional stability in new and effective ways."
Before achieving full operational capability -date that the statement does not specify- SOUTHCOM will collaborate with the military services and the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group (DAWG) of the Department of Defense to identify the necessary skills and capabilities.
The Pentagon proposed for the DAWG a budget of $54.6 billion for fiscal year 2027, compared to $225.9 million for fiscal year 2026, marking the largest historical investment in drones and counter-drone measures.
In his statement of position before Congress in March 2026, Donovan had already anticipated this direction by expressing his intention to capitalize on next-generation capabilities such as unmanned platforms, integration of AI, and commercial tools to counter threats alongside regional partners.
The SAWC is part of an unprecedented U.S. military expansion in the Western Hemisphere.
In January 2026, the Space Force formally activated Space Forces Southern, its component for the Western Hemisphere, which played a key role in the operation to capture the Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro on January 3 of this year, providing satellite communications and navigation capabilities.
Since September 2025, SOUTHCOM has also been leading Operation Southern Lance, a campaign of lethal kinetic strikes against vessels linked to drug trafficking in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific.
By mid-April 2026, the operation had executed approximately 52 kinetic strikes, resulting in more than 163 individuals eliminated, at an estimated cost of 3 billion dollars.
Military analysts describe the U.S. presence in the Caribbean as the largest since the Missile Crisis of 1962, an unmistakable signal that Washington has made the hemisphere a top strategic priority.
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