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By Gabe Whisnant
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President Donald Trump said Tuesday he plans to launch “very hard” land strikes in Latin America as part of his administration’s effort to curb drug trafficking, arguing that earlier maritime operations have sharply reduced the flow of fentanyl and other narcotics into the United States.
Speaking in an interview with Fox Business host Larry Kudlow, Trump said his administration initially focused on disrupting drug shipments at sea, claiming those efforts reduced drug flows by roughly one-third. He said the strategy is now shifting to land-based operations to prevent traffickers from adapting by rerouting shipments.
“Now we’re going to start on land,” Trump said, arguing that hitting trafficking networks on land would stop smugglers from simply moving operations back to boats.
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Focus Shifts From Maritime Interdiction to Land Operations
Trump said maritime enforcement was prioritized because traffickers would “immediately go to the boats” if land routes were targeted first. With sea routes disrupted, he said, the administration is prepared to expand operations inland.
Administration officials have not publicly detailed what form the proposed land strikes would take, which countries would be involved, or whether the operations would involve U.S. military forces, foreign partners or expanded law enforcement activity. The White House also has not said whether congressional authorization would be sought.
Trump has frequently framed drug trafficking as a national security threat, particularly in connection with fentanyl, which he has blamed for a sharp rise in overdose deaths in the United States. He has repeatedly accused drug cartels of exploiting weak enforcement and has called for aggressive action to dismantle their operations.
Legal and Diplomatic Questions Remain Unanswered
Under U.S. law, military operations abroad typically require congressional authorization or must be justified under existing national security authorities. Internationally, the use of force on foreign soil without consent can violate international law unless tied to self-defense or authorized by treaty or the United Nations.
Trump did not address those issues in his interview, nor did he specify whether any governments in the region had agreed to expanded U.S. operations. Several Latin American countries have historically opposed U.S. military involvement in domestic security matters, citing sovereignty concerns and past interventions.
Latin American Leaders Have Pushed Back Before
Trump has previously floated the idea of using U.S. force against drug cartels operating in Mexico and elsewhere, proposals that were met with sharp resistance from regional leaders.
Mexican officials, in particular, have repeatedly rejected any suggestion of U.S. military action on their territory, saying such moves would violate national sovereignty. Leaders in Colombia and Central America have also emphasized cooperation through law enforcement and intelligence sharing rather than unilateral military action.
Supporters Say Stronger Action Is Overdue
Supporters of Trump’s approach argue that decades of traditional counter-narcotics strategies have failed to stop fentanyl and other drugs from reaching U.S. streets and that more forceful measures are necessary.
They point to record overdose deaths in recent years and say drug cartels operate with near impunity in some regions, justifying tougher action. Some conservative lawmakers have previously backed designating major drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, a move that could expand the government’s legal authorities.
Trump has repeatedly emphasized that his administration’s focus is on protecting Americans from drugs, particularly synthetic opioids.
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