U.S. Mulls Military Action on Latin Drug Cartels

President Donald Trump has secretly authorized the Pentagon to prepare for possible military action against Latin American drug cartels designated as foreign terrorist organizations, including Venezuela's Cartel de los Soles and Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel. This policy marks a significant shift from traditional law enforcement to potential direct U.S. military involvement at sea and possibly on foreign soil. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro remains a central target, facing a $50 million U.S. bounty for alleged narco-terrorism, while the U.S. continues to describe Venezuela as a 'narco-state.' The directive has drawn criticism and raised legal and diplomatic concerns, especially since leaders such as Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum have rejected the prospect of U.S. troops on Mexican territory. Coordination is ongoing among several U.S. agencies, but immediate military operations have not commenced. Critics argue that the legal justification for such actions in Latin America remains ambiguous.