President Donald Trump has declared that the United States is in a “non-international armed conflict” with designated drug cartels, according to a confidential memo sent to congressional committees this week and obtained by multiple outlets.
The memo, which outlines the rationale for U.S. strikes on suspected Venezuelan drug boats in recent weeks, reportedly states that Trump has classified certain cartels as “non-state armed groups” whose actions constitute an armed attack against the United States. On that basis, he directed the Pentagon to carry out operations against them.
The document does not specify which cartels are being targeted. In February, the administration designated as foreign terrorist organizations.
Washington has earlier accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading a cocaine-trafficking network known as the Cartel de los Soles, which the Trump administration designated as a terrorist organization in July.
“The President directed the Department of War to conduct operations against them pursuant to the law of armed conflict,” the memo says. “The United States has now reached a critical point where we must use force in self-defense and defense of others against the ongoing attacks by these designated terrorist organizations.”
The memo concludes that U.S. forces are “postured to carry out military operations as necessary to prevent further deaths or injury to American citizens.”
The memo’s release follows three strikes on suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean in September that killed 17 people. Officials said two of the vessels had originated from Venezuela.
The strikes came amid a buildup of U.S. military presence in the region, including four guided-missile destroyers and an amphibious assault ship with more than 5,000 personnel.
In a statement, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said Trump is “delivering on his promise to take on the cartels” and protect Americans from drug-related threats.
“As we have said many times, the President acted in line with the law of armed conflict to protect our country from those trying to bring deadly poison to our shores, and he is delivering on his promise to take on the cartels and eliminate these national security threats from murdering more Americans,” Kelly said.
