PRESIDENT Donald Trump Said His Administration Will Continue Offensive Actions Against Drug Cartels “On Land And At Sea” Without Seeking A Formal Declaration Of War From Congress, Following A Series Of Deadly Strikes On Vessels Suspected Of Trafficking Narcotics. Speaking To Reporters On Oct. 23, Trump Said Maritime Interdictions Had Already Sharply Reduced Sea-Borne Drug Flows And Signaled A Shift To Land-Based Operations.
Trump Defended The Strikes As Necessary To Stem The Flow Of Illegal Drugs Into The United States, Claiming They Had Cut Maritime Drug Imports To “Less Than 5%” Of Previous Levels. He Indicated He Would Notify Congress Of Planned Operations But Stopped Short Of Requesting A Formal Authorization For The Use Of Military Force, Arguing Lawmakers Would Broadly Approve The Actions. In Blunt Remarks, He Said He Did Not Intend To Seek A Declaration Of War And Asserted The U.S. Would Use Lethal Force Against Those “Bringing Drugs Into Our Country.”
The Strikes Have Drawn Scrutiny After At Least Nine Reported Attacks On Boats Suspected Of Carrying Narcotics In The Caribbean And East Pacific, Which International Outlets Say Have Killed Dozens Of People. Relatives And Local Officials Have Said Some Victims, Including Fishermen, Were Unconnected To The Drug Trade; Colombian President Gustavo Petro Publicly Lamented Civilian Deaths And Noted At Least One Incident Involved A Vessel In Distress.
U.S. Department Of Justice Officials Have Reportedly Prepared A Classified Legal Memorandum Arguing The President Can Authorize Lethal Force Against Transnational Cartels That Pose An Imminent Threat To Americans. Civil Liberties Groups, Foreign Governments And Legal Experts Warn Such A Broad Legal Rationale Risks Violating International Law And Eroding Established Checks On The Executive Branch, While Supporters Say Aggressive Action Is Needed To Counter An Unprecedented Drug Crisis.
The Debate Now Centers On Legal Authority, Accountability And The Human Cost Of The Strikes. As The Administration Signals An Intensified Campaign Targeting Land Routes, Congress, Allies In Latin America And Human-Rights Observers Are Likely To Press For Clear Rules Of Engagement, Transparency About Intelligence And Independent Investigations Into Civilian Casualties.