NextFin news, President Donald Trump has issued a secret directive instructing the Department of Defense to prepare for military operations against certain Latin American drug cartels that his administration has designated as foreign terrorist organizations. This directive marks a shift toward using military force in combating drug trafficking networks, which have traditionally been addressed through law enforcement.
The directive authorizes the possibility of military actions both at sea and on foreign soil. U.S. military officials have begun developing operational plans to target these groups. The cartels designated include the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Tren de Aragua, MS-13, and the Venezuelan Cartel de los Soles, which is alleged to be led by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Trump's administration has also increased efforts to combat drug trafficking by reinforcing the U.S. southern border with National Guard troops and expanding covert CIA drone surveillance over Mexico to locate fentanyl labs. The administration has doubled the reward for information leading to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro to $50 million, accusing him of involvement in narcotrafficking.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has publicly rejected the deployment of U.S. military forces on Mexican soil, emphasizing cooperation but ruling out any invasion. The use of U.S. military forces against civilian cartel members raises legal questions, including concerns about the applicability of the Posse Comitatus Act and the legality of lethal force outside armed conflict zones.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly stated that President Trump's top priority is protecting the homeland, which justifies the designation of several cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and the use of military resources against them. The Pentagon and the Justice Department have declined to comment on the directive.
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