Trump directs military to target foreign drug cartels

Trump’s clandestine directive orders the Pentagon to deploy military force against Latin American drug cartels labeled as terrorist organizations, marking a drastic shift from law enforcement to military-led operations. The order targets groups like Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations in February 2025, alongside MS-13 and Cartel de los Soles, led by Venezuela’s Maduro, indicted for drug trafficking. “Maduro will not escape justice and he will be held accountable for his despicable crimes,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The directive, undisclosed in detail, raises legal concerns about military actions on foreign soil without congressional approval or host nation consent. Mexican President Sheinbaum rejected U.S. military operations in Mexico, risking diplomatic fallout. “If that decree has to do with extraterritorial actions, those we do not accept,” Sheinbaum stated. Past U.S. interventions, like the 1989 Panama invasion, were criticized as violations of international law.

Trump’s move escalates his anti-cartel campaign, building on National Guard deployments and increased border surveillance. “President Trump’s top priority is protecting the homeland,” said White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly. However, legal uncertainties persist, with no clear guidance from Pentagon or Justice Department lawyers on compliance with laws like the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts military involvement in law enforcement.

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, emphasized targeting cartels as terrorist groups, stating, “We have to start treating them as armed terrorist organizations, not simply drug dealing organizations.” The directive’s secrecy and potential for unilateral military action signal a bold, risky strategy against well-armed cartels, with implications for U.S.-Latin American relations.