The US is in “armed conflict” with narco cartels, says Trump, after throwing attacks in the Caribbean

Washington (AP) – President Donald Trump has declared that drug cartels are illegal combatants and that the United States is now in an “armed conflict” with them, according to a government memorandum obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday, which arises after the recent US military attacks against boats in the Caribbean.

Memorandum seems to represent an extraordinary claim of presidential war powers, since Trump declared that drug trafficking to the United States is equivalent to an armed conflict that requires the use of military force, which is a new justification for past and future actions.

“The president determined that the United States is in a non -international armed conflict with these designated terrorist organizations,” says the memorandum. Trump ordered the Pentagon to “perform operations against them according to the right of armed conflicts.”

“The United States has now reached a critical point in which we must use the force in self -defense and others against the continuous attacks of these designated terrorist organizations,” according to the memorandum.

In addition to indicating a possible new moment on the “United States First” agenda of Trump – which is inclined to non -intervention abroad – the statement raises serious questions about to what extent the White House intends to use its war powers and on whether Congress will exercise its authority to approve – or prohibit – such military actions.

“The United States is taking a much more drastic step, one that I think is a very, very distant extension of international and dangerous law,” said Matthew Waxman, who was a national security official in the government of George W. Bush. “It means that the United States can attack members of these cartels with lethal force. It means that the United States can capture them and stop them without trial.”

The statement is made after US attacks in the Caribbean

Last month, the US armed forces carried out three fatal attacks against boats in the Caribbean, to which the government accused of transporting drugs. At least two of these operations were carried out against vessels from Venezuela.

These attacks were perpetrated after the United States deployed a maritime force in the Caribbean greater than what has been seen in recent years. The presence of the US navy in the region —Acho warships with more than 5,000 sailors and marine infants – has been quite stable for weeks, according to two defense officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing operations.

The memorandum did not include a time brand, but refers to an American attack on September 15 that “resulted in the destruction of the boat, illicit narcotics and the death of approximately 3 illegal combatants.”

“As we have said many times, the president acted in accordance with the right of armed conflicts to protect our country from those who try to bring mortal poison to our coasts, and is fulfilling his promise to face the cartels and eliminate these threats to national security to prevent them from killing more Americans,” said the White House.

Pentagon officials on Wednesday informed the senators about the attacks, according to a person aware of the matter who was not authorized to make public comments and spoke on condition of keeping anonymity. The Pentagon sent the questions to the White House.

What the Trump government presented in the secret information session in the Capitol was perceived by several senators such as the search for a new legal framework that generates questions, particularly in terms of the role of Congress in authorizing any measure of this type, said that person.

Pentagon officials also informed the personnel of the House of Representatives last week about the attacks, according to another person who was informed about the meeting and also spoke under condition of anonymity.

The memorandum, which was previously reported by The New York Times, presents an argument that is considered is the justification of the government of the government of the military attacks that he has already made against boats in the Caribbean —That have raised concerns of legislators that they could be illegal – and for any future action.

A White House official who was not authorized to make public comments and spoke on condition of anonymity said that the memorandum was sent to Congress on September 18 and does not transmit any new information. The person familiar with the Senate’s informative session said it was broadcast this week.

No details about the attacked cartels were given

Trump has appointed several Latin American drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, and previously the government had justified military action, saying that it was an escalation necessary to curb drug flow to the United States.

Pentagon officials could not provide a list of terrorist organizations designated in the center of the conflict, which generated a lot of frustration among some of the legislators who were informed, according to the person aware of the matter.

Although “Foreign Friendly Nations have made significant efforts to combat these organizations”, these groups “are now transnational and commit continuous attacks throughout the Western hemisphere as organized cartels,” according to the memorandum, which describes cartels as “illegal combatants.”

The Trump government is trying to justify the use of military force against drug cartels in the same way that the Bush government justified the war against Al Qaeda after the attacks of September 11, 2001, said Waxman, who worked in the State and Defense Departments and in the Bajo Bush National Security Council.

However, Bush had authorization from Congress, unlike Trump. The Trump government is arguing that it no longer has to consider the individual circumstances of the use of force, said Waxman, who now presides over the National Security Laws program of the Law Faculty of Columbia.

“Basically he is saying: ‘We don’t have to participate in that type of decision -making case,” Waxman said. “All these boats that transport enemy personnel can be attacked, whether they go to the United States or not.”

Waxman said it is foreseeable for the United States to launch more attacks and “we will see if the United States takes the next great step and is involved in the use of lethal or armed force in the territory of another state.”

Senators and legislators of both political parties have pressed Trump to go to Congress and request authority on war powers for operations against alleged drug traffickers. Several senators and human rights defenders questioned the legality of Trump’s measure. They said that it was a possible overreach of the executive authority, partly because the armed forces were used for police purposes.

Senator Jack Reed, the main Democrat in the Senate Armed Services Commission, said the drug cartels are “despicable”, but that Trump’s government has not offered “a credible legal justification, evidence or intelligence data for these attacks.”

Reed, an ex -official of the Army, said that “all Americans should be alarmed that their president has decided that he can fight secret wars against anyone who calls enemy.”

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The Associated Press Konstantin Toropin journalists Ben Finley and Michelle L. Price contributed to this office.

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This story was translated from English by an AP editor with the help of a generative artificial intelligence tool.