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US Unveils "Greater North America" Security Perimeter From Greenland to Guyana

US War Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced a new "Greater North America" strategic doctrine, defining a US-led security perimeter encompassing all sovereign territories north of the equator. Hegseth stated this perimeter stretches from Greenland to Guyana and is bounded by geographic barriers like the Amazon and the Andes. The strategy calls for enhanced US military posture and presence in the northern hemisphere in coordination with regional partners. Simultaneously, it demands increased burden sharing from nations south of the equator to secure the South Atlantic and Pacific regions.

Key Points: US "Greater North America" Strategy Redefines Hemisphere Security

  • New "Greater North America" security framework
  • Perimeter includes all nations north of the equator
  • US to bolster military presence in north
  • Calls for increased burden sharing in south
  • Doctrine invokes WWII "Quarter Sphere Defence"
3 min read

"From Greenland to Guyana, our security perimeter is one hemisphere": Pete Hegseth unveils 'Greater North America' strategy

US War Secretary Pete Hegseth outlines new "Greater North America" defense doctrine, extending US security perimeter to all nations north of the equator.

"Every sovereign nation and territory north of the equator... is an immediate security perimeter. - Pete Hegseth"

Florida, March 30

US War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday outlined a new geopolitical framework, naming it the "Greater North America" strategy, describing it as a redefinition of regional security under President Donald Trump's leadership.

Speaking at the US Southern Command headquarters in Doral (Florida), Hegseth said the administration's strategic vision stretches "from Greenland to the Gulf of America to the Panama Canal," encompassing all sovereign countries and territories north of the equator within "immediate security perimeter."

"Every sovereign nation and territory north of the equator, from Greenland to Ecuador and from Alaska to Guyana, is not part of the Global South. It is an immediate security perimeter in this great neighbourhood that we all live in," Hegseth said during a conference of Western Hemisphere defence counterparts.

He emphasised that geography underpins the doctrine, pointing to natural barriers such as the Amazon and the Andes mountains, which he argued separate northern and southern strategic responsibilities. According to Hegseth, the United States will bolster its military posture and presence across the northern hemisphere in coordination with regional partners.

He said, "It is an immediate security perimeter in this great neighbourhood that we all live in. Each one of these countries borders either the North Atlantic or the North Pacific. Each one of these countries sits north of the two basic geographic barriers that exist in this region, the Amazon and the Andes mountains."

He added, "In the north, the United States must enhance posture and presence in cooperation with you and our sovereign partners to defend our shared immediate security perimeter."

At the same time, Hegseth indicated a shift in expectations for countries south of the equator, calling for an increased "burden sharing " to secure the South Atlantic and South Pacific regions, as well as critical infrastructure and resources.

"In the south, meaning south of the equator, the other side of this great neighbourhood, we will strengthen partnerships through increased burden sharing. This will enable you to take a greater role in defending the South Atlantic and the South Pacific and to secure critical infrastructure and resources in partnership with us and other Western nations," Hegseth said.

The War Secretary drew parallels with World War II, invoking a revival of a "Quarter Sphere Defence" approach.

He said, "This is what we did in World War II. Just like we sank ships with torpedoes in World War II, at the Department of War, we call it the Quarter Sphere Defence. And we will do this again."

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Calling it "Greater North America" but including Guyana and Ecuador? 🤔 Feels like a very expansive definition. It highlights how geography is being used to justify strategic influence. Hope this doesn't lead to more bloc politics that sidelines countries in the actual Global South.
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Aditya G
The "burden sharing" comment for countries south of the equator is telling. It sounds like a polite way of saying "you handle your own security, but we'll partner when it suits us." As an Indian, I see parallels with how major powers sometimes expect others to manage regional instability.
S
Sarah B
While the strategy is focused on the Americas, the underlying principle of defining security perimeters is global. India must also be clear and firm about its own strategic perimeter and interests. Non-alignment is getting harder, but strategic autonomy is key. 🇮🇳
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Karthik V
Invoking WWII rhetoric is a bit dramatic, no? The world is multipolar now. This "us vs. them" mentality based on hemispheres is outdated. Cooperation, not containment, should be the goal. Hope Indian diplomacy navigates these new-old doctrines wisely.
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Meera T
Respectfully, this strategy seems to overlook the agency of the Latin American countries it claims to encompass. Drawing a line at the Amazon is a geographical simplification of complex political realities. India's approach in its neighbourhood, despite challenges, tries to be more consultative.

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