President Donald Trump has formally designated South American drug cartels as unlawful combatants and declared that the United States is engaged in an “armed conflict” with them. This follows recent U.S. military strikes on suspected cartel-operated vessels in the Caribbean, signaling a significant shift in the use of presidential war powers.
An internal memo from senior administration officials frames drug trafficking as an act of war rather than solely a criminal matter. The memo claims the U.S. is in a non-international armed conflict with these groups and authorizes the Department of Defense to operate under the law of armed conflict. This classification effectively treats cartel members as enemy combatants, a status typically reserved for wartime enemies.
A new U.S. memo declares force necessary for self-defense against cartels, marking a shift from Trump’s previous restraint. Experts warn it expands executive power, risks bypassing Congress, and blurs legal limits. Recent Caribbean strikes underscore the administration’s resolve, but critics fear unchecked military action without clear oversight or boundaries.
