President Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to deploy the U.S. military against drug cartels that Washington has labeled as foreign terrorist organizations. This clandestinely signed measure paves the way for military operations not only within U.S. borders but also abroad and in international waters.
According to sources cited by The New York Times, the presidential directive grants the Armed Forces the authority to undertake actions traditionally reserved for law enforcement, such as pursuing, capturing, and neutralizing members of these criminal organizations. The White House justifies this order by highlighting the urgent need to curb the trafficking of fentanyl, a substance that has led to the most severe addiction crisis in decades in the United States, alongside other illicit drugs.
The Trump administration views the influx of narcotics, predominantly originating from Mexico and Latin America, as a national security threat. This perspective also supports the imposition of tariffs on Mexico and Canada. High-ranking U.S. officials are reportedly developing proposals for these military operations, though specifics regarding potential intervention scenarios and timelines remain undisclosed.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to escalate the fight against drug trafficking. Recent measures include a $50 million bounty for the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom Washington associates with a drug cartel and accuses of being "one of the world's biggest narcotraffickers." In July, the U.S. government's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Maduro's so-called Cartel of the Suns as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). Earlier, in February, the U.S. officially labeled six Mexican drug cartels, the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, and the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang as foreign terrorist organizations.
This authorization for the U.S. military to act against Latin American cartels marks a significant shift in the Republican president's security policy, showcasing his readiness to leverage military forces as a key instrument in the war on drug trafficking, both domestically and internationally.
Questions About U.S. Military Actions Against Drug Cartels
What authority does the U.S. military have against drug cartels under this directive?
The directive allows the U.S. military to conduct operations typically handled by law enforcement, such as the pursuit, capture, and neutralization of cartel members.
Why has the White House justified military action against drug cartels?
The White House argues that military intervention is necessary to stop the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs that have caused a severe addiction crisis in the U.S.
How does this military authorization impact U.S. relations with Mexico and Latin America?
This move could strain relations as it identifies drug flows from these regions as national security threats, potentially leading to increased tariffs and military actions.