The United States is set to expand its military operations against drug cartels, including potential ground assaults in foreign territories. This was confirmed by President Donald Trump during a Wednesday news conference in Washington. "We will hit them hard. We must take action to save lives. This is a national security issue," declared Trump after welcoming the president of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) at the White House. He emphasized that over 300,000 Americans have died in the past year due to drugs entering the country.
"These drugs are infiltrating and killing our citizens. If we don't act now, we'll lose hundreds of thousands more," Trump explained. He announced plans to inform Congress about the forthcoming military actions, asserting that the United States possesses the legal authority to target cartels beyond its borders. "We face a national security crisis. We know who they are, where they come from, and what they transport. They're not just coming by sea anymore; they are also coming by land, and we will strike them there too," he stressed.
Support from Key Administration Officials
Secretary of State Marco Rubio supported the President's decision, highlighting that criminal groups "navigate international waters with hostile intentions, flooding the United States with deadly and dangerous drugs." Rubio recounted a recent interception of a submersible — referred to as a 'dragon' — used to transport tons of narcotics to American shores. "We know who's behind it, where they're coming from, and what they carry," Rubio elaborated, confirming that U.S. intelligence has traced the responsible organizations back to their origins.
The Secretary underscored that drug consumption in the country has reached "alarming levels," despite border control efforts, and recognized the so-called 'ocean drugs' as a new challenge to hemispheric security.
Coordinated Offensive Against Drug Networks
Trump affirmed that the government is preparing a coordinated offensive to target "drug trafficking cells" in identified areas outside the U.S. "We need to dismantle the lives of those behind the drugs. This marks the end of a cell. Something very serious is going to happen. What we did at sea, we will now execute on land," he stated, without specifying if any agreements with other countries are in place.
Recently, Washington has ramped up air and maritime strikes against drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, resulting in several fatalities and a dozen operations classified as kinetic by the Department of War. This new phase announced by Trump would initiate the first known ground incursions under the anti-drug national security doctrine his administration has promoted since September, keeping regional nations, especially Colombia and Venezuela, on high alert.
FAQs on U.S. Military Actions Against Drug Cartels
Why is the United States considering ground assaults on drug cartels?
The United States views drug trafficking as a national security threat, with over 300,000 Americans dying from drug-related issues in the past year. Ground assaults are seen as a necessary step to dismantle drug networks and save lives.
What legal authority does the U.S. have for foreign military actions against drug traffickers?
The U.S. government asserts that it has the legal right to target drug cartels outside its borders as part of its national security strategy to counteract the drug trafficking crisis.
How has the U.S. been combating drug trafficking so far?
The U.S. has intensified air and maritime strikes against drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, marking a significant escalation in efforts to intercept narcotics before they reach American shores.