Trump’s War on Cartels: U.S. Military Preps Lethal Strikes in Mexico
The Trump administration has issued directives for the U.S. military to develop plans for lethal operations targeting Mexican drug cartels, according to investigative journalist Ken Klippenstein’s reporting.
These plans, initiated in late spring 2025, involve Northern Command (NORTHCOM) preparing strike options by mid-September.
Military sources indicate the focus is on transnational criminal organizations, particularly the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels.
President Trump designated these cartels as foreign terrorist organizations early in his term, enabling broader national security responses.
The State Department formally labeled groups like Cartel de Sinaloa and Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion as Foreign Terrorist Organizations in February 2025.
This classification aligns with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s view that cartels should be treated as armed terrorist entities rather than mere drug traffickers.
U.S.-Mexico military relations remain cooperative, with ongoing joint training and intelligence sharing. However, any unilateral U.S. action inside Mexico raises sovereignty concerns for both governments.