President Trump has quietly authorized the U.S. military to use force against Latin American drug cartels designated as foreign terrorist organizations, marking his most aggressive move yet in combating transnational drug trafficking. The directive, first reported by The New York Times and confirmed by The New York Post, gives U.S. forces formal authority to target cartel operations both on land and at sea—areas previously overseen by federal law enforcement.

According to a source close to the White House, Trump is especially focused on dismantling Venezuela’s Cartel de Los Soles, which he views as a major threat to U.S. national security. The State Department has officially designated several groups as foreign terrorist organizations, including Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, Cartel de Los Soles, and El Salvador’s notorious MS-13 gang.

During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump floated the idea of using military power to take down drug cartels operating in Mexico and across Latin America. Since returning to office, he has acted on that vision by raising tariffs on Canada and Mexico, accusing them of failing to prevent the flow of narcotics and human trafficking into the U.S. He also directed immigration authorities to target individuals with suspected gang affiliations.

Trump has also brought families impacted by gang violence to the White House and vowed to seize cartel assets, redirecting them to victims of what he terms “migrant crime.” His administration has placed a renewed focus on holding foreign leaders accountable, including Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

On Thursday, the Justice and State Departments announced a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest on drug trafficking charges. The broader anti-cartel initiative is being coordinated across multiple federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Justice, Homeland Security, Treasury, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.