Former President Donald Trump has secretly signed a directive authorizing the Pentagon to use military force against certain Latin American drug cartels his administration has classified as terrorist organizations, The New York Times reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The move, described as the most aggressive yet in his administration’s anti-narcotics campaign, shifts responsibilities traditionally handled by law enforcement to the U.S. military in an effort to curb the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs. The order provides a legal framework for direct military operations at sea and abroad against these groups, and Pentagon officials are reportedly developing options for carrying them out.
The use of U.S. military forces in such operations raises significant legal challenges. Experts warn it could be considered “assassination” if American forces kill suspects who do not pose an imminent threat outside of a congressionally authorized armed conflict. It remains unclear whether the White House, Pentagon, or State Department have issued definitive legal opinions on the scope of the directive.
Earlier this year, Trump deployed troops and National Guard units to the southern border to combat drug and migrant flows, while ordering the State Department to designate several cartels—including Tren de Aragua and MS-13—as foreign terrorist organizations, citing threats “beyond those posed by traditional organized crime.”
