In a groundbreaking move, President Donald Trump has formally declared the United States to be in an "armed conflict" with South American drug cartels. A memo, which was recently obtained by the Associated Press, revealed that the administration has now classified these cartels as unlawful combatants, signifying a pivotal change in U.S. foreign policy.
The declaration follows a series of U.S. military strikes against narco-trafficking boats in the Caribbean, which resulted in the destruction of vessels and narcotics, as well as the death of cartel members involved in smuggling drugs into the United States. "The President determined that the United States is in a non-international armed conflict with these designated terrorist organizations," the memo stated, underscoring the severity of the situation.
President Trump directed the War Department to "conduct operations against them pursuant to the law of armed conflict," as reported by the Conservative Brief. The administration's stance is that drug trafficking into the U.S. represents an attack on American citizens, thereby justifying the use of military force. "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," the memo elaborated.
According to the AP, this move offers new legal grounds for both retrospective and prospective strikes. It frames cartel activities as acts of war, thereby broadening the scope of presidential war powers. However, this shift has not been without its critics. Matthew Waxman, a former official from the Bush administration, voiced his concerns to the AP, stating, "It means the United States can target members of those cartels with lethal force. It means the United States can capture and detain them without trial." Waxman described the change as "a very, very far stretch of international law and a dangerous one."
Defending Trump's decision, the White House issued a statement asserting that the President acted within the law of armed conflict to "protect our country from those trying to bring deadly poison to our shores," and that he is fulfilling his promise to confront the cartels and eliminate these threats.
The military operations conducted last month against Caribbean boats, some reportedly originating from Venezuela, align with a significant increase in American naval forces in the region. The Navy has dispatched eight warships and over 5,000 sailors and Marines in what is described as the largest buildup in years.
Pentagon officials briefed senators on the operations during a classified session, with some lawmakers interpreting the discussions as establishing a new legal framework for U.S. military action. This has raised concerns regarding Congress's role in authorizing the use of force. Additionally, House staffers received separate classified briefings on the strikes. The White House has refrained from providing further public details, directing inquiries back to the administration.
The memo, first reported by The New York Times, now acts as both a rationale for the strikes already executed and a basis for future actions. With this declaration, President Trump has set a precedent for the United States' stance on combating international drug trafficking, marking a significant moment in the nation's foreign policy narrative.
