WE ARE AT WAR! Trump approves military action against Latin American cartels classified as terrorist organizations.

President Donald Trump has reportedly given secret approval for U.S. military action against Latin American drug cartels that the U.S. has formally designated as foreign terrorist organizations, according to the New York Times.

This authorization would allow American forces to directly engage with these criminal groups, which are heavily involved in smuggling drugs like fentanyl across the U.S.-Mexico border.

A source close to the White House told the New York Post that Trump is determined to completely destroy Venezuela’s Cartel de Los Soles, a group tied to President Nicolás Maduro, and eliminate their presence in the Western Hemisphere.

The anti-cartel campaign is reportedly being managed across multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, Justice Department, Homeland Security, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Treasury Department.

“President Trump’s top priority is protecting the homeland,” said Deputy White House Press Secretary Anna Kelly to Fox News Digital. “That’s why he took the bold step of labeling several cartels and gangs as foreign terrorist organizations.”

Mexico Responds

In response to speculation that the U.S. might take military action, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum clarified that no American troops would be allowed on Mexican soil.

“This is about what they’re doing within their own country. It does not involve our territory,” she stated on Friday.

Trump’s Long-Standing Anti-Cartel Agenda

Trump has long expressed interest in using military force to disrupt drug cartels as part of his broader efforts to combat drug trafficking and illegal immigration from the south.

He has previously imposed sanctions on senior members of Cartel del Noreste, one of Mexico’s most dangerous trafficking organizations, and has used the threat of trade tariffs to pressure both Mexico and Canada into cooperating with U.S. anti-smuggling initiatives.

Maduro and U.S. Bounty

The Trump administration has also zeroed in on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is wanted by the United States. On Thursday, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture.

“Maduro relies on terrorist organizations like Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel, and Cartel de los Soles to fuel violence in the U.S.,” Bondi said in a video. “He is among the world’s most notorious narco-traffickers and poses a national security threat.”

Escalation in Enforcement

Shortly after taking office, Trump’s administration also announced the extradition of 29 cartel members from Mexico, showcasing a tougher stance on transnational crime.

“The prior administration let these criminals roam freely,” the White House said at the time. “We’re treating them as the terrorists they are and demanding justice for the American people.”

Source: FOX NEWS