President Donald Trump has quietly taken one of his most aggressive steps yet against Latin American drug cartels by authorizing the U.S. military to use force against cartels classified as foreign terrorist organizations, according to sources close to the White House.
This classified order grants U.S. forces the authority to engage cartel operations both on land and at sea, marking a significant shift from previous strategies that relied mainly on federal law enforcement agencies to combat drug trafficking.
A source familiar with the matter told reporters, “The president is determined to not just dismantle — but completely destroy — Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro’s Cartel de Los Soles and obliterate their operations in the Western Hemisphere.”
The U.S. State Department’s list of designated foreign terrorist organizations involved in drug trafficking includes Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua and Cartel de Los Soles, along with El Salvador’s notorious gang Mara Salvatrucha, better known as MS-13.
During his 2024 campaign, Trump publicly considered authorizing military strikes on cartels operating inside Mexico, an idea that drew both support and criticism, the New York Post reported.
Since taking office, he has also implemented higher tariffs on Canada and Mexico, blaming their governments for failing to adequately stem drug and human smuggling into the United States. Immigration officials have been directed to target new arrivals linked to gangs.
This military authorization is the latest in a string of hardline measures from Trump’s administration aimed at dismantling the flow of fentanyl and other narcotics flooding U.S. borders.
In addition to military action, the administration has promised to go after cartel assets, with a plan to redirect seized resources to families harmed by cartel-related violence and migrant crime.
Maduro’s regime, in particular, has been a focus of Trump’s crackdown. The Justice and State Departments recently announced a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest for violating U.S. drug laws.
The anti-cartel campaign is a coordinated effort involving multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and Treasury Department.
Deputy White House Press Secretary Anna Kelly emphasized the administration’s priority, stating, “President Trump’s top priority is protecting the homeland, which is why he took the bold step to designate several cartels and gangs as foreign terrorist organizations.”
This bold move signals a new chapter in the fight against narcotics and gang violence affecting communities across the U.S. and its southern borders. With military resources now officially authorized to engage cartel groups, the Trump administration aims to disrupt the powerful drug trafficking networks that have long operated with impunity in Latin America.
As the campaign unfolds, all eyes will be on how effective this military involvement will be in dismantling some of the most dangerous criminal organizations threatening American security.
