President Donald J. Trump has formally notified Congress that the United States is engaged in an official “armed conflict” with South and Central American drug cartels, marking a significant escalation in U.S. military operations against organized crime networks. A confidential notice sent to congressional committees this week asserts that cartel groups are non-state armed entities designated as terrorist organizations, justifying recent military actions targeting their activities.
The administration’s legal rationale for three military strikes conducted last month—resulting in the deaths of 17 individuals linked to drug trafficking—was outlined in the document. These operations, carried out in the Caribbean Sea, targeted vessels suspected of facilitating narcotics smuggling. The notice emphasizes that such actions are part of a broader conflict rather than isolated incidents, with cartel members classified as “unlawful combatants.”
While the Trump White House has not yet announced direct attacks on cartel infrastructure in Venezuela, officials are reportedly considering expanded operations against drug networks in the region. The move underscores growing U.S. efforts to dismantle transnational criminal organizations through military means.
