Washington, D.C. — United States President Donald Trump has intensified his administration’s campaign against what he calls “narco-terrorists”, asserting that military strikes on suspected drug traffickers do not require a declaration of war or Congressional authorization. Trump confirmed that following recent US attacks on vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, his administration is preparing to expand its campaign with land-based strikes.
“We’re not going to necessarily ask for a declaration of war,” Trump said Thursday at the White House. “We’re just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country. The land is going to be next.”
Trump’s remarks echo weeks of escalating rhetoric promising to target cartels in Latin America and strike “wherever necessary” to stop the flow of narcotics into the US.
Expanding US Military Campaign in the Americas
Since early September 2025, the US military has attacked at least nine vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, killing at least 37 people in operations the White House claims targeted drug smuggling networks. However, no evidence has been made public to substantiate Washington’s allegations.
According to Pentagon sources, the campaign has involved US naval destroyers, F-35 fighter jets, and even a nuclear-powered submarine, supported by thousands of troops stationed across the region. Officials have framed the campaign as a war on narco-terrorism, a term critics say allows Trump to bypass congressional and international oversight.
Regional Tensions Rise: Venezuela and Colombia in Focus
The US’s intensified military posture has provoked strong condemnation from several Latin American nations, particularly Venezuela and Colombia. Washington has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Colombian President Gustavo Petro of direct involvement in drug trafficking.
Maduro, speaking in Caracas on Wednesday, accused the United States of using “anti-cartel operations” as a pretext for regime change.
“The US wants to overthrow our government under the guise of fighting drug cartels,” Maduro said, claiming his country possesses 5,000 Russian surface-to-air missiles to deter any American invasion.
Flight-tracking data confirmed that a US B-1B bomber flew near Venezuela’s coast this week — the second show of force in just seven days. The aircraft turned north before vanishing from radar, fueling speculation that Washington is preparing for broader military action.
Asked about the incident, Trump initially dismissed the reports as “false” but later said the US was “not happy with Venezuela for a lot of reasons.”
Trump Calls Cartels the ‘ISIS of the Western Hemisphere’
The US president has repeatedly compared Latin American drug cartels to terrorist organizations like ISIS (ISIL). On Thursday, he claimed the world must recognize these groups as a direct threat to American security.
“Drug cartels are the ISIS of the Western Hemisphere,” Trump said.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the sentiment, writing on social media:
“Just as Al Qaeda attacked our homeland, these cartels are waging war on our people. There will be no refuge or forgiveness — only justice.”
The Pentagon has since designated several cartel networks as “foreign terrorist organizations,” a move that grants the US military broader latitude to conduct lethal operations abroad without formal Congressional approval.
Backlash From Latin America and Human Rights Groups
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the US actions as violations of international law, insisting that Washington has no legal authority to carry out bombings in international waters.
“Obviously, we do not agree. International law governs how such operations must be conducted,” Sheinbaum said. “We have made this clear to the United States government.”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who has clashed with Trump since being branded a “drug trafficker thug,” accused the US of committing extrajudicial executions.
“Amnesty International opposes these missile bombings. All international law is broken in the Caribbean,” Petro wrote on social media.
Human rights organizations have demanded an independent investigation into the attacks, warning that the killings could constitute war crimes under international law if civilian casualties are confirmed.
Global Implications
Experts warn that Trump’s campaign could trigger a regional security crisis and further destabilize Latin America. Analysts have compared the current strategy to early War on Terror policies, which blurred distinctions between military and law enforcement operations.
Political observers suggest that Trump’s hardline approach may also be aimed at galvanizing domestic support ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, using anti-narcotics rhetoric to bolster his image as a “law-and-order” president.
As tensions rise, Venezuela has mobilized troops along its coastline, while Mexico and Colombia have filed formal diplomatic protests demanding the US halt all military strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific.
📰 Key Highlights
- Trump says no congressional approval is needed to strike “narco-terrorists.”
- US military expands operations from sea to potential land targets.
- Venezuela, Colombia, and Mexico condemn attacks as breaches of international law.
- Human rights groups demand investigations into possible extrajudicial killings.
- Regional security tensions escalate amid growing US military presence.
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