Trump moves to target drug cartels with US military: Reports
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
US President Donald Trump has reportedly directed the Pentagon to begin using military force against cartels deemed terrorist organisations.
PHOTO: NYTIMES
Follow topic:
- Trump plans military action against Latin American drug cartels, designated as "terrorist" organisations, to combat drug trafficking.
- Discussions include using special forces and intelligence, coordinating with foreign partners, but Mexico insists "no invasion of Mexico".
- Trump vowed to "wage war" on cartels, accusing them of rape, murder, and posing a "grave threat" to US national security.
AI generated
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is moving to target Latin American drug cartels with the military, US media said on Aug 8, after Washington designated several narcotics trafficking groups as “terrorist” organisations earlier this year.
The New York Times reported that Mr Trump has directed the Pentagon to begin using military force against cartels that were deemed terrorist organisations, while the Wall Street Journal said the president ordered the Defence Department to prepare options to do so.
The Journal said the use of special forces and the provision of intelligence support were among the options under discussion, and that any action would be coordinated with foreign partners.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum insisted following the reports on Aug 8 that there would be “no invasion of Mexico.”
Mr Trump vowed in March to “wage war” on Mexico’s drug cartels, which he accused of rape and murder as well as “posing a grave threat” to national security.
The month before, the United States designated Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel and six other drug trafficking groups with Latin American roots as “global terrorist” organisations.
Mr Trump’s administration has since added another Venezuelan gang, the Cartel of the Suns, which has shipped hundreds of tons of narcotics into the US over two decades.
Mr Trump signed an executive order on Jan 20, his first day back in the White House, creating a process for such designations, saying the cartels “constitute a national-security threat beyond that posed by traditional organised crime.” AFP
