Reports of U.S. military operations against drug cartels in South America in 2025 relate to a new, more aggressive strategy under the Trump administration that has raised significant legal and diplomatic questions. The administration has taken several steps to escalate its campaign against drug cartels, particularly focusing on those originating in Venezuela.
Key actions taken in 2025
Terrorist designation: In January 2025, President Trump signed an executive order designating several major Latin American drug cartels, including Venezuela's Tren de Aragua, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).
Authorization of military force: In August 2025, reports emerged that Trump had secretly signed a directive authorizing the Pentagon to use military force against these designated cartels.
Military deployment: The U.S. began a naval buildup in the southern Caribbean in August 2025, deploying multiple warships and military aircraft to combat drug trafficking.
Lethal strikes: The U.S. military has conducted multiple lethal strikes against suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean, including three in September 2025. These strikes, including one that killed 11 people, have been justified by the administration as targeting "narcoterrorists".
Declaration of armed conflict: In a memo sent to Congress in early October 2025, the administration declared that the U.S. is engaged in a formal "armed conflict" with these drug cartels.
Controversy
and criticism
The new strategy has been met with significant criticism and has caused diplomatic friction:
Legal
authority: The military strikes have prompted debate over their legality,
as some critics question whether the president has the authority to use
military force in this manner without congressional authorization.
International law: International law experts have also questioned the administration's legal justification, particularly the designation of non-state actors as "unlawful combatants" in a "non-international armed conflict".
Venezuelan reaction: The Venezuelan government, led by Nicolás Maduro, has accused the U.S. of seeking regime change, and the country has mobilized its military in response to the U.S. buildup in the Caribbean.
Mexican denial: Mexico's government has denied any agreement with the U.S. regarding DEA initiatives to target cartels within its borders.
Diplomatic tensions: Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have expressed concern and outrage over the military actions in the region.
As of October 2025, the U.S. has not announced any plan for a full-scale military campaign to "eradicate" drug cartels in all of South America. However, the Trump administration has designated several Latin American drug cartels as "unlawful combatants" in a "non-international armed conflict" and has deployed military assets to combat them in the Caribbean Sea.
Military
actions and developments
· Targeted strikes: In August and
September 2025, the U.S. military conducted three lethal strikes on vessels in
the Caribbean Sea that were allegedly smuggling drugs from Venezuela. The
operations killed a total of 17 people.
· Military buildup in the
Caribbean: The U.S. has deployed a significant number of naval and air
assets to the southern Caribbean, including destroyers, reconnaissance
aircraft, and a nuclear submarine. This buildup is officially aimed at
interdicting drug shipments but also serves to pressure the government of
Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.
· Escalation of rhetoric: The Trump
administration has characterized its actions using the language of
counterterrorism, calling the cartels "narco-terrorists" and framing
the issue as an armed conflict. This shift in terminology has been compared to
the "global war on terror" tactics used after the September 11
attacks.
· Designating cartels as terrorist
groups: In February 2025, the U.S. State Department designated several
Mexican cartels, along with the Venezuelan-based Tren de Aragua gang, as
Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).
· Planning for operations in Venezuela: U.S. military officials have been drawing up plans for potential strikes against drug traffickers inside Venezuela.
International
response and legal questions
The U.S.
actions have been met with significant international controversy, raising
questions about their legality.
· Criticism from international law
experts: Some international law experts argue that the strikes violate
fundamental principles of international law, especially since they were not
conducted with the consent of the countries involved and resulted in the
intentional killing of suspects.
· Foreign government reactions: These
military actions have been condemned by some South American governments.
Venezuela's government has accused the U.S. of seeking "regime
change" and has mobilized its own military in response to the U.S. buildup.
· Concerns from U.S. officials: Some U.S. lawmakers have questioned the legality and evidence for the strikes.
Potential
for escalation
The military actions signal a more aggressive approach to combating drug trafficking compared to previous U.S. policy, raising concerns about potential escalation and the long-term effectiveness of a military-led strategy. Some experts warn that such military interventions against organized crime could be a grave mistake and set back relations with Latin America for years.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody Ga Tea Party Leader
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