U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly signed a directive instructing the Pentagon to prepare for the potential use of military force against several Latin American drug cartels designated as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs). According to a report by the New York Times, the order provides a formal basis for direct military action, both at sea and on foreign soil, against these groups.
While the White House has not issued an official statement confirming the directive, Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelley emphasized Trump’s commitment to “protecting the homeland.” Secretary of State Marco echoed the stance, stating that such groups must be treated as “armed terrorist organizations” rather than simply drug-dealing entities. The FTO designation grants the U.S. military and intelligence agencies expanded resources and authority to target them.
Pentagon officials are said to be drawing up a range of operational plans, which could include naval drug interdiction missions, targeted raids, and expanded airborne surveillance for intelligence gathering. The list of targeted groups reportedly includes the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico, Tren de Aragua in Venezuela, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) across Central America, and the Cartel de los Soles in Venezuela.
Conducting strikes or raids on foreign soil without host nation approval would be viewed under international law as an act of war, potentially escalating tensions with countries such as Mexico and Venezuela. In May, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected Trump’s request to allow U.S. troops to operate within Mexico to combat cartels. Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to deny recognition of Nicolás Maduro as Venezuela’s president.
In a related move, the U.S. Justice Department announced Thursday that it had doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million—twice the amount placed on Osama bin Laden before his death, accusing him of being the head of the Cartel de los Soles in Venezuela.