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President Donald Trump has classified multiple drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, and the U.S. military is prepared to carry out further strikes against them. These operations have already resulted in 17 deaths, according to a Pentagon notice sent to Congress. The U.S. forces remain postured to conduct military operations necessary to prevent harm to American citizens by eliminating these designated terrorist organizations.
The Trump administration launched the first deadly strike on September 2 off the coast of Venezuela, killing 11 people. Two additional strikes in subsequent weeks each killed three individuals. Neither the White House nor Pentagon have provided evidence that the boats targeted were involved in drug trafficking or affiliated with cartels.
Trump has not formally authorized a new use of military force for this operation, although a draft bill is circulating in Congress. The administration has also signed a secret directive authorizing lethal force against cartels but has never publicly released it.
The strikes have fueled speculation that the Trump administration might consider launching a military operation on Venezuelan territory to combat drug trafficking. However, experts note that Venezuelan cartels play a minor role in the U.S. fentanyl supply chain, with most fentanyl coming from Mexico.
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