President Donald Trump has formally declared that the United States is in “armed conflict” with drug cartels, according to a notice sent by his administration to Congress, citing recent military strikes on boats off Venezuela that killed at least 14 people.
The letter, obtained by AFP, was framed as a legal justification for at least three strikes carried out in international waters. The Trump administration has increased military presence in the Caribbean, deploying warships, fighter jets, and even a nuclear submarine to combat drug trafficking, while tensions with Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro escalate.
“The president determined these cartels are non-state armed groups, designated them as terrorist organizations, and determined that their actions constitute an armed attack against the United States,” the Pentagon’s notice read, describing suspected smugglers as “unlawful combatants.”
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly defended the strikes, saying Trump acted “in line with the law of armed conflict” to prevent cartels from “bringing deadly poison to our shores.” She added that Trump was fulfilling his promise to “eliminate national security threats from murdering more Americans.”
The notice was reportedly sent after a September 15 strike, in compliance with laws requiring Congress to be informed of US military action. A White House official stressed the letter “does not convey any new information.”
Venezuela has sharply condemned the operations, accusing the US of violating international law. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said Thursday that five American fighter jets were detected flying just 75 kilometers from Venezuelan territory, calling it a “provocation” and “threat to our national security.” Caracas further accused Washington of endangering civil aviation in the Caribbean.
The moves mark the most significant US military deployment in the region in more than three decades. Last month, Trump sent 10 F-35s to Puerto Rico alongside eight warships. After Venezuelan jets flew close to a US naval vessel, Trump warned that any repeat would result in Caracas’ aircraft being “shot down.”
Maduro has denounced the buildup as part of a covert US attempt at regime change, while legal experts have questioned whether Washington’s designation of drug smugglers as “unlawful combatants” holds up under international law.