In a confidential memo to Congress, President Donald Trump has declared the United States is engaged in a formal “non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels operating in North and South America. The administration classified these groups as terrorist organizations and labeled suspected smugglers as “unlawful combatants.”

The directive follows military strikes on Venezuelan drug boats and plans to target internal drug labs in Venezuela, according to reports. The memo emphasized that the president acted under his constitutional authority to protect American interests abroad, framing cartels as transnational threats capable of causing mass casualties through drug trafficking. It cited a September 15 strike on Caribbean vessels as part of this campaign, asserting that such actions align with laws governing armed conflict.

Legal experts have criticized the move, arguing it stretches international law by equating drug smuggling with acts of war. Retired military lawyer Geoffrey S. Corn called the designation an “abuse” that undermines legal boundaries, noting that selling drugs does not constitute a direct armed attack. The administration defended the strategy, stating it aims to combat overdose deaths linked to fentanyl and other illicit substances.

The memo also reiterated claims that cartels operate with paramilitary capabilities, despite conflicting evidence about their direct ties to U.S. fatalities. Critics highlighted the lack of clarity in the legal rationale for military actions, which include killing suspects rather than arresting them. A White House spokesperson praised the approach as necessary to eliminate “national security threats.”