In December 2025, President Donald Trump confirmed plans to expand military strikes against drug trafficking operations from sea to land. He explicitly stated that these land strikes would not be restricted to Venezuela but could occur “anywhere” drugs are being transported to the United States.
Statements and Policy (December 2025)
- Expanded Scope: Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that “anywhere drugs are pouring in” could be a target, emphasizing that the mission is about stopping those “bringing in drugs and killing our people” regardless of location.
- Reasoning for Land Strikes: Trump argued that land operations would be “much easier” than maritime interdiction because the U.S. has detailed intelligence on specific routes and “every house” used for manufacturing and transport.
- Legal Framing: The administration has designated multiple cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). On October 1, 2025, Trump formally notified Congress that the U.S. is in a “non-international armed conflict” with these groups, a designation used to justify lethal force against them as “unlawful combatants”.
- Casualties to Date: As of December 2025, the U.S. military has conducted at least 28 strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, resulting in over 100 fatalities.
International and Regional Tensions
- Venezuela: President Nicolás Maduro has condemned the threats as a “formula of lies” and warned of a “general insurrectionary strike” if his nation is attacked.
- Colombia: Tensions have escalated with President Gustavo Petro after the U.S. revoked his visa and sanctioned him in October 2025, accusing his government of involvement in trafficking.
- Mexico: President Claudia Sheinbaum has firmly rejected any U.S. military action on Mexican soil, stating that Mexico’s sovereignty is “inviolable”.
Congressional Involvement
While Trump has claimed he has the authority to strike without lawmakers’ approval, he stated in mid-December that he “wouldn’t mind” notifying Congress before a land attack, though he expressed concern about potential leaks. Republican-led efforts in the Senate have thus far rejected resolutions to limit his authority for these operations.
