Trump claims Caribbean bombings led to the U.S. war on drug cartels
President Donald Trump has designated drug cartels as unlawful combatants, stating that the United States is now engaged in a “armed conflict with them,” as outlined in a memo from the Trump administration obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday, following recent US strikes on boats in the Caribbean. The memo seems to embody a remarkable claim regarding presidential war powers, as Trump essentially states that the trafficking of drugs into the United States constitutes armed conflict that necessitates the deployment of military force—a novel justification for both past and forthcoming actions. “The President determined that the United States is in a non-international armed conflict with these designated terrorist organisations,” the memo states. Trump instructed the Pentagon to “conduct operations against them pursuant to the law of armed conflict.”
“The United States has now reached a critical point where we must use force in self-defence and defence of others against the ongoing attacks by these designated terrorist organisations,” the memo states. It indicates a possible new phase not only in the administration’s readiness to extend the boundaries of presidential power in matters of war but also in Trump’s articulated America First agenda that prioritizes non-intervention abroad. This situation prompts significant inquiries regarding the extent to which the White House plans to exercise its war powers and whether Congress will assert its authority to either endorse or prohibit such military actions. Last month, the US military executed three lethal strikes on boats in the Caribbean, which the administration alleged were involved in drug trafficking. At least two of those operations were conducted on vessels that hailed from Venezuela. The memo lacks a timestamp; however, it alludes to a US strike on September 15 that led to the destruction of the vessel, the illicit narcotics, and the death of around 3 unlawful combatants. “As we have said many times, the President acted in line with the law of armed conflict to protect our country from those trying to bring deadly poison to our shores, and he is delivering on his promise to take on the cartels and eliminate these national security threats from murdering more Americans,” White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said. The Pentagon directed inquiries to the White House. Pentagon officials provided a briefing to senators regarding the strikes on Wednesday. What the Trump administration presented during the classified briefing at the Capitol was viewed by multiple senators as an effort to establish a new legal framework, which raised concerns specifically about Congress’s role in authorizing any such actions, that person said.
The memo articulates a rationale perceived as the administration’s justification for the military strikes already executed on the boats in the Caribbean, which have prompted concerns from lawmakers regarding their potential unlawfulness, as well as any forthcoming actions. Trump has classified multiple Latin American drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, and the administration had earlier defended the military action as an essential escalation to curb the influx of drugs into the United States. Pentagon officials were unable to supply a list of the designated terrorist organizations involved in the conflict, a situation that caused significant frustration among some lawmakers who received the briefing, according to a source. While friendly foreign nations have made significant efforts to combat these organisations, the memo stated, the groups are now transnational and conduct ongoing attacks throughout the Western Hemisphere as organised cartels. The memo designates cartel members as unlawful combatants. As the Republican administration targets vessels in the Caribbean, lawmakers from both major political parties have voiced their concerns and urged Trump to approach Congress to obtain war powers authority for these operations. The initial military strike, conducted on September 2, targeted what the Trump administration identified as a drug-laden speedboat, resulting in the deaths of 11 individuals. Trump asserted that it was managed by the Tren de Aragua gang, which was designated by the US as a foreign terrorist organization this year.
Numerous senators, along with human rights organizations, raised concerns regarding the legality of Trump’s actions. Concerns were raised about a possible overreach of executive authority, particularly due to the military’s involvement in law enforcement activities. The Trump administration has not provided an explanation regarding how the military evaluated the cargo of the boats and concluded the passengers’ purported gang connections prior to the strikes. Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the leading Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committees, stated that the drug cartels are despicable and must be addressed by law enforcement. “The Trump Administration has offered no credible legal justification, evidence, or intelligence for these strikes,” said Reed, a former Army officer who served in the 82nd Airborne Division.
