President Trump has formally declared the United States to be in an armed conflict with drug trafficking organizations.
The White House sent a confidential notice to Congress this week informing lawmakers that drug cartels have been designated as terrorist organizations, according to The Hill. This declaration provides legal justification for recent U.S. military strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea that allegedly carried narcotics.
The notice states that Trump directed the Department of War to conduct operations against these groups under the law of armed conflict. The administration claims the cartels cause tens of thousands of American deaths annually and conduct ongoing attacks throughout the Western Hemisphere.
Military Operations Target Suspected Vessels
U.S. military forces conducted three strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea last month, resulting in 17 deaths across all targeted vessels. At least two of the attacked boats originated from Venezuela, according to administration officials.
The September 15 strike specifically killed three people aboard a vessel that U.S. intelligence assessed as affiliated with a designated terrorist organization. The administration labeled those killed in the strike as "unlawful combatants" engaged in drug trafficking activities.
Officials claim the strikes were lawful and conducted in self-defense, though no public proof of drugs on the boats has been provided. "The vessel was assessed by the U.S. intelligence community to be affiliated with a designated terrorist organization and, at the time, engaged in trafficking illicit drugs, which could ultimately be used to kill Americans," the administration stated.
Legal Framework and Congressional Tensions
The White House argues that military action is justified under current legal authorities without additional congressional approval. "The United States has now reached a critical point where we must use force in self-defense and defense of others against the ongoing attacks by these designated terrorist organizations," officials declared.
Democrats contend that Trump must obtain war powers authority from Congress before conducting such military operations. The constitutional debate centers on whether the president can unilaterally authorize strikes against non-state actors without legislative approval.
The notice frustrated some lawmakers by failing to specify which cartels have been designated as terrorist organizations. This lack of specificity has raised questions about the scope and limits of the declared armed conflict.
Administration's Strategic Justification
Trump's team characterizes the cartels as transnational threats that warrant military response under international law. "They illegally and directly cause the deaths of tens of thousands of American citizens each year," the administration argued in its congressional notice.
Officials describe the cartels as non-state armed groups whose actions constitute an armed attack against the United States. "Therefore, the President 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 notice explained.
The administration emphasizes the ongoing nature of the threat posed by these organizations across multiple countries. The groups allegedly conduct operations throughout the Western Hemisphere as organized criminal enterprises with military capabilities.
Future Military Posture and Operations
U.S. forces remain prepared to conduct additional military operations against designated cartel targets in the region. The administration has indicated that further strikes may occur to protect American citizens from cartel-related threats.
Military officials have been directed to maintain readiness for operations designed to eliminate threats from these designated terrorist organizations. U.S. forces "remain postured to carry out military operations as necessary to prevent further deaths or injury to American citizens by eliminating the threat posed by these designated terrorist organizations," according to the notice.
The strike on September 15 reportedly resulted in "the destruction of the vessel, the illicit narcotics, and the death of approximately 3 unlawful combatants." This language suggests the administration views future operations through a military lens rather than traditional law enforcement approaches.
