Donald Trump has reportedly issued a secret directive to the Pentagon authorising the military to target Latin American drug cartels designated as terrorist organisations. The order, first reported by the New York Times, provides an official basis for potential direct military operations at sea and on foreign soil against the cartels. A US official confirmed the directive but said military action was not imminent and the scope of operations remained unclear.
The move has sparked concern in Mexico, where President Claudia Sheinbaum sought to calm fears of a US invasion. The directive could pave the way for unilateral American military strikes across Latin America, marking an unprecedented escalation in US tactics in the region. In February, the State Department designated seven organised crime groups as foreign terrorist organisations, including five major Mexican cartels.
Separately, Trump is planning to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska next Friday to discuss the war in Ukraine. Trump indicated that ending the conflict would likely involve “some swapping of territories”.
