President Donald Trump has declared that the United States is engaged in “armed conflict” with drug cartels, according to a notice sent by his administration to Congress following recent military strikes in international waters near Venezuela.
The letter, obtained by AFP on Thursday, was framed as a legal justification for at least three operations in the Caribbean Sea that killed 14 suspected smugglers. The Trump administration has stepped up its military presence in the region, deploying warships, fighter jets, and a nuclear submarine, citing the need to disrupt drug trafficking networks.
“The president determined these cartels are non-state armed groups, designated them as terrorist organizations, and determined that their actions constitute an armed attack against the United States,” the Pentagon’s notice stated, also labeling the smugglers “unlawful combatants.”
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly defended the strikes, saying Trump acted “in line with the law of armed conflict” to protect Americans from “deadly poison” brought in by cartels.
But the operations have sparked diplomatic tensions with Venezuela, whose defense minister Vladimir Padrino denounced alleged US fighter jet incursions as a “provocation” and a “threat to our national security.” Caracas accused Washington of violating international law and endangering civil aviation.
The escalation comes after a series of close calls, including Venezuelan jets buzzing a US naval vessel last month, which led Trump to warn that any repeat would result in Venezuelan planes being “shot down.” President Nicolas Maduro, meanwhile, has accused Trump of attempting covert regime change under the guise of anti-narcotics operations.
What you should know
President Trump has declared an “armed conflict” with drug cartels, citing their actions as a terrorist threat to the US.
Recent strikes near Venezuela killed 14 suspects, prompting Caracas to accuse Washington of provocation and international law violations amid heightened military deployments in the Caribbean.
