President Donald Trump has stated that the USA was in a ‘military conflict’ with drug cartels, which the White House now considers terrorist organizations.
CNN reported on this, citing a Pentagon communication to Congress.
Thus, the administration of the President of the United States is legally justifying military strikes against drug cartels.
The report also states that Trump designated cartel smugglers as ‘unlawful combatants,’ and therefore the U.S. military had the legal right to attack a vessel in the Caribbean Sea last month that was believed to be transporting drugs.
CNN reported that the U.S. military had carried out at least three such strikes over the past month, resulting in a total of 17 deaths.
However, the report submitted to Congress mentioned only one of the strikes, which took place on September 15th.
The U.S. administration did not name a specific group, but Trump stated that the first strike in early September had been directed against suspected smugglers linked to the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua.
The publication notes that the new legal justification is significant because cartel members and drug traffickers have until now been considered criminals entitled to due process, not enemy combatants. However, this change now allows the country to lawfully kill them.
As of the end of September, the U.S. military had amassed forces and resources near Venezuela to support a marine landing.
Previously, the media reported that the United States was considering the possibility of conducting airstrikes against drug cartels on Venezuelan territory.
F-35 fighter jets have already been deployed in Puerto Rico as part of the operation against drug cartels.
Americans have also deployed a covert special operations ship near Venezuela, which is used as a floating base for carrying out special operations.
