Trump Plans US Military Action in Mexico Against Drug Cartels

US President Donald Trump is considering a military deployment to Mexico aimed at combating drug cartels and addressing the ongoing addiction crisis in the United States. While officials from the Trump administration indicate that an immediate deployment is not on the horizon, they have confirmed that early training for this potential mission is already underway.

The proposed military action would involve not only US troops but also participation from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). According to two current and two former senior officials, detailed planning is in progress, focusing on operations targeting Mexican drug cartels. Ground operations would be a key element of this mission, although sources stress that the decision for deployment remains pending.

Discussions regarding the specifics of the mission are ongoing, with reports from NBC News stating that troops would largely be drawn from the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). These forces would operate under a legal framework known as Title 50, which provides the US intelligence community broad authority for covert operations. The primary strategy would likely involve drone strikes aimed at drug laboratories, cartel members, and leaders, although some drone operations would require on-ground support for optimal effectiveness.

In a significant move earlier this year, the State Department designated six Mexican drug cartels, along with MS-13 and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, as foreign terrorist organizations. This designation grants US military and intelligence agencies extensive authority to act against these groups.

Legal and Historical Context

Historically, the US military has only entered Mexico on limited occasions, most notably in 1916 under General John J. Pershing, who led a punitive expedition against revolutionary leader Pancho Villa. Since that time, US operations within Mexico have been largely restricted to intelligence sharing and training initiatives, particularly under the Mérida Initiative established in 2008.

Deploying troops without Mexico’s explicit consent poses a considerable legal challenge, as the Mexican government has consistently opposed foreign military presence on its soil. Should Trump’s plans advance, it would represent the first significant military deployment in Mexico in over a century.

Regional Military Operations and Relations with Venezuela

The announcement of potential military operations in Mexico coincides with increased US military activity in the Caribbean, which has included strikes on vessels linked to drug trafficking. Recent operations have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 65 individuals. The latest strike occurred on a Saturday, prompting criticism from various regional governments.

In an interview with CBS News, Trump expressed skepticism about the possibility of a full-scale war against Venezuela, despite suggesting that the regime of President Nicolás Maduro might be nearing its end. Trump commented, “I doubt it. I don’t think so,” when asked about military conflict, but added, “I would say yeah. I think so,” regarding the stability of Maduro’s presidency.

Maduro, who faces US drug charges, has accused Washington of leveraging the issue of drug trafficking as a pretext for regime change in Venezuela. As the situation evolves, the implications of US military actions in both Mexico and the Caribbean remain significant, raising questions about international law and the balance of power in the region.