US President Donald Trump has reportedly secretly signed an order authorizing the Pentagon to use military force against cartels, The New York Times (NYT) reported on Friday, August 8th.
According to the outlet’s sources, an order secretly signed by Trump “provides an official basis for the possibility of direct military operations at sea and on foreign soil against cartels.”
According to The New York Times report, US military officials have begun developing options for pursuing these groups.
The NYT adds that “ordering the military to combat illicit trafficking also raises legal questions.”
“Such as whether it would be considered ‘murder’ if US forces, acting outside of an armed conflict authorized by Congress, killed civilians, even suspected criminals, who do not pose an imminent threat,” The New York Times notes.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly stated in an email that “President Trump’s top priority is protecting the homeland.”
“That’s why he made the bold decision to designate several cartels and gangs as foreign terrorist organizations,” the newspaper added.
The US Department of Defense declined to comment on the new directive.
Cartels designated as terrorist organizations
It should be noted that last February, the US State Department designated the Sinaloa, Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), and Carteles Unidos del Golfo (CDG) cartels as terrorist organizations.
As well as the Cartel del Noreste (CDN) and La Familia Michoacana.
It also designated the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua cartel and the Mara Salvatrucha gang.
The US State Department’s advisory stated that the groups pose a risk to US national security, foreign policy, and economic interests.
Therefore, designating cartels as terrorist groups allows the US to “use other elements of American power,”
Such as “Intelligence agencies, the Department of Defense, etc., to attack these groups if we have the opportunity,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an interview with the Catholic media outlet EWTN.
Source: The New York Times
