Summary
President Trump has labeled drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, and his administration has carried out military strikes against suspected drug boats. These actions are part of a strategy to combat drug trafficking by using military tactics similar to those from the war on terror. Some experts and lawmakers have raised concerns about the legality of these strikes.
Key Facts
- President Trump sent F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico as part of efforts against drug cartels.
- FBI Director Kash Patel compared drug cartels to al-Qaida and suggested using similar tactics against them.
- The U.S. carried out at least three lethal strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea.
- President Trump claimed that these boats carried drugs like cocaine and fentanyl.
- The administration stated that these actions were done under presidential powers for national defense.
- Some experts and lawmakers criticized these actions as potentially illegal, arguing they resembled extrajudicial killings.
- The approach echoes strategies used during the war on terror after the 9/11 attacks.
