**U.S. military engagement in Latin America during 2026 has centered on targeted counter-narcotics and counter-terror operations against designated cartels rather than any full-scale invasion of a sovereign country.** The Trump administration has conducted airstrikes on suspected drug vessels, supported joint raids with host-nation forces in places like Ecuador and Colombia, and advanced the Shield of the Americas coalition involving over a dozen governments for intelligence sharing and sanctions. A January 2026 operation captured Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, described as a limited raid coordinated in part with local elements, but no occupation or broader territorial incursion followed. Recent statements from SOUTHCOM leaders emphasize land-based options against terrorist-designated groups with partner consent, alongside drone transfers and financing shifts, while Brazil’s October elections and ongoing diplomatic pressure on Cuba reflect economic and political levers over direct military conquest. These patterns of coalition-backed, limited-scope actions align with the 93.5% trader consensus on “No,” reflecting the absence of conditions or announcements pointing to an invasion scenario before year-end.