Trump Declares US in Armed Conflict with Drug Cartels after Military Strikes Kill 17

President Donald Trump has officially declared that the United States is engaged in a "non-international armed conflict" with foreign drug cartels, which his administration has designated as terrorist organizations and labelled their members as "unlawful combatants." This declaration, communicated in a confidential notice to Congress, provides the legal rationale underpinning recent US military strikes on suspected drug trafficking boats near Venezuela, which have resulted in at least 17 deaths. The administration argues these actions are acts of self-defense against cartels whose activities constitute armed attacks on the US and are linked to the national overdose crisis. Critics and legal experts challenge the legality of these strikes under US and international law, questioning whether drug trafficking qualifies as an armed attack and warning about potential extrajudicial killings. Trump's move reflects an expansion of presidential wartime powers, reminiscent of post-9/11 military justifications against non-state actors, though the scope and future application of this policy remain under scrutiny. The administration also hints at possible future strikes on cartel operations by land in Venezuela, raising further legal and geopolitical concerns.