The United States plans to deploy air and naval forces to the southern Caribbean to deal with threats from Latin American drug cartels, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA, citing three sources familiar with the decision.
President Donald Trump wants to use military forces to pursue Latin American drug cartels, which are designated as global terrorist organizations. The Pentagon has been instructed to prepare options for action on the issue.
According to one of the three sources, the mission will involve several P-8 reconnaissance aircraft, at least one warship and at least one attack submarine. The source said that the mission will last several months and the plan is for these forces to operate in international airspace and international waters. The Navy could be used not only to conduct intelligence and surveillance operations, but also as a launch pad for targeted strikes, the source added.
Trump has made the fight against drug cartels a central goal of his administration, as part of a broader effort to curb migration and secure the southern border of the United States. In recent months, the Trump administration has deployed at least two warships to support border security and drug trafficking efforts.
The Trump administration has designated the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel and other drug cartels, as well as the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, as major drug cartels. for global terrorist organizations in February, when Trump tightened immigration controls and began deporting suspected cartel members.
The U.S. military has already stepped up aerial surveillance of Mexican drug cartels to gather intelligence on how best to counter them. Trump has already offered to send U.S. troops to Mexico to help combat drug trafficking, but Mexico has rejected the offer.