US Declares Armed Conflict Against Drug Cartels Deploying Military in Caribbean

President Donald Trump has declared the United States to be in an "armed conflict" with drug cartels, designating them as non-state armed groups and terrorist organizations responsible for armed attacks against the U.S. This declaration legally justifies recent U.S. military strikes on boats off Venezuela, which have resulted in multiple fatalities and are described as self-defense against "unlawful combatants." The Trump administration has significantly increased its military presence in the Caribbean, including deploying warships, F-35 aircraft, and thousands of troops, aiming to combat drug trafficking but escalating tensions with Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, who accuses the U.S. of using cartels as a pretext for regime change. The administration maintains that its actions align with the law of armed conflict to protect American lives, while critics, including congressional Democrats, argue that there is insufficient legal justification and transparency for these strikes. This policy marks a major shift in U.S. foreign and drug enforcement strategy, with ongoing regional and international implications.