In a recent interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, President Donald Trump suggested a forthcoming shift in the United States' strategy against drug trafficking, indicating that military action against Mexican drug cartels may be on the horizon. President Trump's administration has already achieved significant progress in thwarting maritime narcotics smuggling, reportedly reducing it by 97%, and is now setting its sights on land-based operations.
This development comes after a series of maritime strikes against drug trafficking operations originating from Venezuela and Colombia, which President Trump has referenced as a blueprint for possible future enforcement efforts. The President expressed concern about the control exerted by criminal organizations over Mexico, describing it as "very sad to watch." This concern is backed by the grave impact of drug trafficking on the U.S., where drug overdoses claim over 100,000 American lives annually.
Early in his second term, President Trump took a major policy step by officially designating several prominent cartels as terrorist organizations. On the first day of his return to office, he signed Executive Order 14157, targeting cartels and other groups by classifying them as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists. This move granted the government expanded counterterrorism authorities to combat drug cartels' operations within Mexico and throughout the Western Hemisphere.
Following this order, on February 6, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that eight criminal entities, including major Mexican cartels like the Sinaloa Cartel and Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, met the criteria for these designations, which took effect later that month. The designations enable the U.S. government to impose sanctions, freeze assets, and press criminal charges against individuals associated with the cartels. Additionally, these labels allow for potential military and intelligence actions under existing counterterrorism laws.
Reacting to President Trump's remarks, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum warned against any unilateral U.S. military interventions, citing concerns over Mexico's sovereignty. Sheinbaum has been actively engaging U.S. officials through her foreign minister, Juan Ramon de la Fuente, seeking diplomatic alternatives to military action. She also highlighted that U.S.-manufactured weapons contribute to cartel violence and proposed increased security cooperation and trade incentives as more effective solutions.
While President Trump has not provided specific details regarding the timing or scope of potential land-based operations, he has suggested that actions could be initiated within weeks. Possible approaches could include targeted drone strikes on cartel leaders or fentanyl laboratories, aiming to disrupt the drug trafficking networks that have been extending their reach into the United States.
