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Trump declares U.S. in ‘non-international armed conflict’ with drug cartels

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Trump declares that drug cartels operating in the Caribbean are ‘unlawful combatants’

Trump admin tells Congress the US is in armed conflict with drug cartels

Donald Trump

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"They will never give me a Nobel Peace Prize."

"Trump did not win a Nobel Peace Prize. And never will."

"If it [Nobel Peace Prize] were fairly awarded, I think in a year, he [Trump] should get it from what I've seen."

"He might even win the Nobel Peace Prize he covets."

“President Trump, I believe, for that work [efforts to stop wars] is going to win the Nobel Peace Prize.”

"My prediction, for what it's worth, is that Trump ultimately, probably in two years' time, wins a Nobel Peace Prize."

This year "could finally be the year in which he is awarded the prize."

Will Trump Win A Nobel Peace Prize?

U.S. President Donald Trump notified Congress that his administration has determined drug cartel members are unlawful combatants with which the United States is engaged in non-international armed conflict, according to a memo obtained by media outlets.

Al Jazeera

Newsday

U.S. President Donald Trump notified Congress that his administration has determined drug cartel members are unlawful combatants with which the United States is engaged in non-international armed conflict, according to a memo obtained by media outlets.

The memo follows <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/us-conducts-second-strike-on-venezuelan-drug-boat-kills-">three U.S. military strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats</a> in the Caribbean last month that killed 17 people, with at least two operations targeting vessels that originated from Venezuela according to administration officials.

New York Post

The memo follows three U.S. military strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean last month that killed 17 people, with at least two operations targeting vessels that originated from Venezuela according to administration officials.

Pentagon officials briefed senators on Wednesday about the strikes but could not provide a list of designated terrorist organizations at the center of the conflict, which frustrated some lawmakers who were briefed according to sources.</span

Associated Press on X

Los Angeles Times

US News & World Report

Pentagon officials briefed senators on Wednesday about the strikes but could not provide a list of designated terrorist organizations at the center of the conflict, which frustrated some lawmakers who were briefed according to sources.

The administration argues that cartels are transnational groups conducting ongoing attacks throughout the Western Hemisphere as organized entities, therefore constituting an armed attack against the United States and requiring military response.

FOX News

The administration argues that cartels are transnational groups conducting ongoing attacks throughout the Western Hemisphere as organized entities, therefore constituting an armed attack against the United States and requiring military response.

Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticized the strikes saying the Trump administration has offered no credible legal justification, evidence or intelligence for the military actions against cartels.</span

The Washington Post

Daily Mail

Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticized the strikes saying the Trump administration has offered no credible legal justification, evidence or intelligence for the military actions against cartels.

Legal experts, including former Bush administration official Matthew Waxman, called the declaration a dangerous stretch of international law, noting that it enables the targeting of cartel members with lethal force and detention without trial.

CTVNews

telegraph.co.uk

Legal experts, including former Bush administration official Matthew Waxman, called the declaration a dangerous stretch of international law, noting that it enables the targeting of cartel members with lethal force and detention without trial.

Trump's bold declaration of war against drug cartels represents decisive action against terrorist organizations that kill 100,000 Americans annually. These well-armed paramilitary groups constitute genuine threats requiring military response, not failed law enforcement approaches that have allowed cartels to operate with impunity for decades.

Trump's bold declaration of war against drug cartels represents decisive action against terrorist organizations that kill 100,000 Americans annually. These well-armed paramilitary groups constitute genuine threats requiring military response, not failed law enforcement approaches that have allowed cartels to operate with impunity for decades.

Trump admin says US engaged in ‘armed conflict’ with drug smugglers after 4 boat strikes

Trump declares WAR on cartels: US enters 'non-international armed conflict' in extraordinary escalation

Republican narrative

Trump's cartel designation shreds legal precedent by conflating drug trafficking with armed warfare, allowing extrajudicial killings without due process. This dangerous overreach bypasses Congress while targeting loosely organized criminal networks that don't meet organized armed group standards under international law.

Trump's cartel designation shreds legal precedent by conflating drug trafficking with armed warfare, allowing extrajudicial killings without due process. This dangerous overreach bypasses Congress while targeting loosely organized criminal networks that don't meet organized armed group standards under international law.</span

ABC news

US is engaged in formal 'armed conflict' with 'terrorist' drug cartels, Trump says

Trump says U.S. is in armed conflict with drug cartels after ordering strikes in the Caribbean

The New York Times

Trump Drug Cartels War.Html

Democratic narrative

There is a 28% chance that the United States will attack Venezuela before 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 28% chance that the United States will attack Venezuela before 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Trump Declares Drug Cartels 'Unlawful Combatants'

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Trump Declares Drug Cartels 'Unlawful Combatants'

The Spin

Republican narrative

Democratic narrative

Metaculus Prediction

Public Figures

The Controversies

Trump

Dworkin

Bessent

Pifer

Burgum

Morgan

OLBG

Go Deeper

Articles on this story

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