The Trump administration has reportedly instructed the US military to ready plans for direct attacks against Mexican drug cartels, with preparations to be managed by the Northern Command and a target date for the plans set for mid-September. According to three military sources who spoke to independent journalist Ken Klippenstein, the classified order calls for lethal strikes on cartel targets inside Mexico—a significant departure from long-standing US-Mexico military cooperation, which has avoided such unilateral action due to political sensitivities.
Officials say the directive stems from President Trump's early move to label cartels as terrorist organizations and his willingness to act with or without Mexico's approval. Earlier this month, he reportedly gave the OK for the Pentagon to use military force against certain Latin American drug cartels. Discussions at NORTHCOM's Colorado Springs headquarters in July included top Mexican defense leaders, who urged that any counter-cartel effort be a joint operation, reflecting Mexico's concerns about sovereignty.
Historically, operations within Mexico have been the domain of covert US agencies like the CIA and Joint Special Operations Command, but the latest order shifts greater responsibility to NORTHCOM, now tasked with "operational preparation of the battlespace" and developing targets for possible strikes—particularly against the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels. The US is also increasing intelligence and surveillance activities, though Mexico hasn't formally permitted military action. The fentanyl crisis—linked to more than 225,000 American deaths—has intensified Washington's focus on cartels, which are now described in official threat assessments as the "most immediate" danger to US security.
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While senior military officials acknowledge deeper intelligence and cooperation with Mexico than ever before, there's no sign that Mexico would endorse US strikes. Instead, the stage is being set for operations resembling targeted attacks used in the Middle East, raising the prospect of a new, controversial phase in the US response to cartel violence. Per the New York Times, such unilateral action "would be a marked escalation" in the drug trafficking battle, "putting US forces in a lead role on the front lines against often well-armed and well-financed organizations." More here from Politico on why Mexico may not be able to do much about the US' plans.
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