US Declares 'Armed Conflict' With Drug Cartels Under Trump

The United States, under the leadership of President Donald Trump, has officially declared that it is in an "armed conflict" with drug cartels. This was reported by The New York Times, citing a notification sent by the White House to Congress. This move not only creates a legal basis for recent military actions but also grants the president powers characteristic of wartime, which has caused serious concern among human rights advocates.

The publication notes that this notification provides new details on the administration's legal justification for why three U.S. military strikes against ships in the Caribbean last month, which resulted in the deaths of 17 people, should be considered lawful actions rather than murder. Essentially, by declaring an "armed conflict," the White House seeks to present its actions as steps taken within the framework of the laws of war, thereby avoiding accusations of potential violations of international law.

According to lawyers interviewed by The New York Times, Trump's decision to officially declare the campaign against drug cartels an active armed conflict indicates that the head of the White House is strengthening his claims to assume extraordinary powers typical of wartime. This means that under international law, a country in an armed conflict can "lawfully kill enemy combatants, even if they do not pose an immediate threat." Additionally, this status allows for their indefinite detention without a court order and trial in military tribunals. Thus, the administration gains tools to bypass standard civil law procedures.

These events are taking place against the backdrop of tensions surrounding Venezuela. On September 30, President Trump did not rule out that Washington might toughen its actions against Venezuela under the pretext of combating drug trafficking. However, he did not specify whether direct strikes on the country's territory were being considered. According to Trump, Venezuela is a "very dangerous" direction, particularly regarding "drugs and other issues." The White House chief added that his administration now intends to "deal with the cartels."

These statements were preceded by Trump's speech at the UN General Assembly. On September 23, the American leader announced that the United States would launch new strikes against drug cartels, which are allegedly linked to Venezuela.