Trump declares "armed conflict" against drug cartels, invoking war powers

By bellecarter // 2025-10-04

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President Trump formally notified Congress that the U.S. is engaged in an "armed conflict" with South/Central American drug cartels, classifying them as "non-state armed groups" and "unlawful combatants" akin to terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda.
The administration cites wartime authority to justify lethal force, indefinite detention and military prosecution of cartel members, framing cartel operations as an "armed attack" requiring "self-defense" actions.
The memo references three U.S. naval strikes in the Caribbean (killing 17) and hints at potential escalation, including targeting cartel infrastructure in Venezuela—risking further regional destabilization.
Legal experts warn the declaration "shreds" international law, arguing cartels are criminal enterprises, not traditional combatants. Critics fear mission creep, civilian casualties and unilateral military action without due process.
Trump's policy reframes narcotrafficking as an existential threat (e.g., fentanyl killing 60,000+ Americans yearly), merging counterterrorism tactics with the "war on drugs." Congress faces questions about constitutional overreach, Latin American relations and long-term counternarcotics strategy.

President Donald J. Trump has formally notified Congress that the U.S. is engaged in an official "armed conflict" with South and Central American drug cartels. The confidential notice, sent this week to key congressional committees, provides legal justification for recent military strikes against cartel operations in the Caribbean and signals a potential expansion of direct action against cartel strongholds in Venezuela. The Trump administration's memo asserts that drug cartels qualify as "non-state armed groups" and that their trafficking operations constitute an "armed attack" against the United States. By classifying them as "unlawful combatants," the administration is invoking wartime authority—similar to the framework used against terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda—to justify lethal force, indefinite detention and military prosecution of cartel members. "The president determined that the United States is in a non-international armed conflict with these designated terrorist organizations," the memo states. It adds that the U.S. has reached a "critical point" requiring military action in "self-defense and defense of others." Legal experts warn that this interpretation stretches international law. Geoffrey S. Corn, a retired Army judge advocate, called the declaration an "abuse" that "shreds" legal boundaries, arguing that cartels—while criminal—are not engaged in traditional hostilities against the United States.

Recent strikes and future escalation

The notice references three recent U.S. military operations in the Caribbean, where naval forces targeted suspected drug-smuggling vessels, killing 17 individuals. The administration contends these strikes were lawful under the laws of armed conflict, rather than isolated law enforcement actions. Brighteon.AI's Enoch adds: The memo also hints at broader ambitions, including potential strikes on cartel infrastructure in Venezuela—a move that could further destabilize relations with the Maduro regime and test the limits of U.S. military intervention in Latin America. The U.S. has waged a decades-long "war on drugs," but Trump's declaration reframes narcotrafficking as an existential threat akin to terrorism. Fentanyl, primarily smuggled by Mexican cartels, now kills over 60,000 Americans annually—more than any foreign war in recent memory. Previous administrations relied on interdiction, diplomacy and law enforcement, but Trump's approach mirrors his broader "America First" doctrine: unilateral action with minimal congressional oversight. (Related: Report: Trump administration orders military to prepare strike plans against Mexican cartels.) Critics argue that militarizing counternarcotics risks civilian casualties, regional blowback and mission creep. Matthew Waxman, a former Bush administration official, warned that the declaration sets a "dangerous" precedent, allowing the U.S. to "target members of those cartels with lethal force" without due process. Trump's declaration of an "armed conflict" against drug cartels marks a pivotal moment in U.S. policy—one that blends counterterrorism tactics with the "war on drugs." While the administration frames it as a necessary response to an escalating crisis, legal scholars and lawmakers question whether the move oversteps constitutional and international boundaries. As Congress weighs its response, the broader implications—for Latin American relations, military accountability and the future of counternarcotics strategy—remain uncertain. What is clear is that the silent war against cartels has entered a new, more aggressive phase. Watch the video below where a Venezuelan drug vessel was shot down by U.S. authorities. This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth on Brighteon.com.

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Recent strikes and future escalation

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