President Donald Trump has designated drug cartels as unlawful combatants and declared that the United States is engaged in an “armed conflict” with them, according to an administration memo obtained by The Associated Press. This declaration follows recent U.S. military strikes against boats in the Caribbean suspected of narcotics trafficking.

The memo reflects a broad interpretation of presidential war powers, framing drug trafficking into the U.S. as an act of armed conflict that justifies military intervention. It states that the United States is in a non-international armed conflict with designated terrorist organizations and directs the War Department to conduct operations against them under the laws of armed conflict.

“The United States has now reached a critical point where we must use force in self-defense and defense of others against ongoing attacks by these designated terrorist organizations,” the memo says. This move signals a shift in Trump’s “America First” policy, raising questions about the scope of presidential authority and Congress’s role in authorizing military actions.

Experts, including former national security official Matthew Waxman, have criticized the approach as a “very, very far stretch” of international law, warning it allows lethal force and detention without trial against cartel members. The U.S. military recently conducted three strikes targeting narcotics boats in the Caribbean, amid a significant buildup of naval forces in the region.

Pentagon officials briefed senators on the strikes during a classified session, leading to concerns about the legal framework and congressional oversight. The memo justifies past and potential future operations targeting drug cartels as part of this new conflict.