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The Donald Trump administration notified Congress that the United States is in a "non-international armed conflict" against drug cartels, which the administration has designated as terrorist organizations, according to a memorandum cited by Fox News and the Associated Press (AP).
The decision, which marks a historic shift in Washington's drug policy, comes after a series of military attacks in the Caribbean against vessels coming from Venezuela. In one of these incidents, on September 2, 11 people died when a boat identified as belonging to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua was destroyed by U.S. forces, reported AP.
“Cartels have grown in arms, organization, and violence (...) they possess paramilitary capabilities and are responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans each year,” states the memorandum released by Fox News.
Escalation with Venezuela and the shadow of Maduro
The new legal framework gives Trump wartime powers to deploy the military in operations that were previously reserved for police agencies. The president has authorized the dispatch of warships and destroyers to the region, as well as the use of drones and fighter jets from Puerto Rico.
The measure places Venezuela at the eye of the storm: several of the boats sunk in recent weeks set off from its shores, and Trump directly accuses Nicolás Maduro of leading a narco-state. Washington is offering a reward of 50 million dollars for information that leads to his capture.
In response, Maduro signed a decree of "external commotion", which grants extraordinary powers to the Executive to mobilize troops, take control of strategic infrastructures, and restrict citizens' rights in the name of national defense. “No one will be allowed to promote or facilitate a military aggression against Venezuela,” warned Vice President Delcy Rodríguez.
Internal debate in the U.S.
The announcement from Trump has triggered clashes in Congress. Several Democratic senators and some Republicans are questioning the legality of using the military for criminal enforcement tasks without parliamentary approval. Human rights groups are also warning that this policy could pave the way for abuses and direct intervention in Latin American countries.
According to AP, the Pentagon has not yet provided the official list of organizations designated as terrorists, leading to frustration among lawmakers who view the strategy as a "dangerous legal loophole."
Regional consequences
The new American doctrine generates uncertainty in the Caribbean and Latin America, where there are already rumors about possible attacks within Venezuelan territory against laboratories and drug trafficking leaders. Analysts warn that an offensive on Venezuelan soil could trigger a spiral of reprisals, internal persecutions, and increased political repression, while simultaneously reinforcing the Chavista narrative of “defense of sovereignty.”
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan population faces the contradiction between war rhetoric and a daily crisis marked by inflation, service collapse, and mass migration.
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