The Trump administration is exploring the use of drone strikes against drug cartels in Mexico, sources cited by NBC News and CNN said.
NBC News reported that the discussions involving the White House, Department of Defense, CIA, and other intelligence agencies, are in the early stages.
Sources told the news outlet that any potential policy would be implemented only with the cooperation of the Mexican government. However, the possibility of moving forward without Mexico’s consent has not been ruled out and may be considered a last resort, according to the sources.
It remains unclear whether American officials have raised the possibility of drone strikes with the Mexican government.
CNN reported that the CIA is currently reviewing legal boundaries, potential collateral damage, and risks to U.S. citizens as part of its evaluation of the plan.
The CIA has the legal authority to conduct lethal strikes or provide targeting information and other support to another nation to carry out such strikes, provided they are properly authorized by the president and comply with the laws and regulations governing armed conflict.
However, a U.S. official cited by CNN noted that carrying out strikes against cartel figures in areas with a significantly higher number of U.S.-born citizens present a challenge.
“It’s not a question of whether they can or cannot use lethal force. They can,” a source told CNN. “It’s more about the implications of Americans being potentially injured or killed based on their broader presence in the space.”
Some officials also warned about the potential risks of retaliation from cartels, some of which have a presence within the United States.
For the first time in nearly 20 years, the U.S. intelligence community’s annual threat assessment, published last month, identified international drug cartels as among the top national security threats to the U.S.
Since taking office, President Donald Trump intensified surveillance of Mexican cartels as part of broader efforts to strengthen border security and combat drug trafficking organizations.
His administration also increased the military presence along the U.S.-Mexico border, deploying thousands of additional troops to support federal law enforcement. In addition, Trump designated major Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations—a move that could open the door to expanded military action against them.
