Trump Orders Pentagon to Prepare Military Options Against Drug Cartels
Trump Orders Pentagon to Prepare Military Options Against Drug Cartels
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to develop potential military options targeting drug cartels, which his administration recently designated as terrorist organizations. This directive, confirmed by U.S. officials, marks a significant escalation in the fight against these groups.
While the preparation of military assets is underway, officials clarify that any deployment of U.S. forces is not imminent. The exact scope of the authorized operations and the specific military actions being considered remain unclear, raising immediate questions regarding the legality and implications of such interventions. The New York Times was first to report on Trump’s signed directive.
The White House, through spokesperson Anna Kelly, emphasized that “President Trump’s top priority is protecting the homeland,” citing his “bold step” in designating several cartels and gangs, including Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel, and MS-13, as foreign terrorist organizations. These designations followed an executive order signed by Trump in January and were formalized in February.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking on EWTN, highlighted that the terrorist designation empowers the administration to employ various forms of American power, including intelligence agencies and the Department of Defense, against these groups. Rubio asserted that cartels, which he described as being armed like armies and controlling territory, must now be treated as “armed terrorist organizations, not simply drug dealing organizations.”
This evolving situation indicates a shift in strategy, aiming to confront drug cartels with the full spectrum of U.S. national security capabilities.
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