Trump has secretly signed a directive to the Pentagon to begin using military force against certain Latin American drug cartels

U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly signed a classified order directing the Pentagon to carry out military operations against certain Latin American drug cartels, The New York Times reported, citing individuals familiar with the matter.

The directive authorizes potential direct military action — both at sea and on foreign soil — against cartels that the Trump administration has labeled as terrorist organizations.

According to the report, U.S. military officials have begun formulating plans to target these groups. The move, however, has sparked legal questions over whether deploying force outside a formally authorized conflict could violate U.S. or international law.

After returning to the White House for a second term in January, Trump ordered the State Department to designate specific cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, a list that has since included groups such as Tren de Aragua and MS-13.

The decision reflects Trump’s broader strategy of employing military forces in roles typically reserved for law enforcement, particularly in efforts to curb the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs.

Earlier this year, Trump deployed National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles, citing what he described as unrest and riots. State and local officials, including California’s governor, condemned the action as unnecessary and dangerous.

Critics contend that Trump seeks to wield the military — which operates under his direct command — as a personal enforcement tool, advancing his agenda without regard for legal boundaries or constitutional limits.