President Donald Trump has signalled a dramatic escalation in his administration's war on drugs, suggesting the United States could soon begin land strikes on drug cartels operating within Mexico. The remarks follow a series of military actions against Venezuela and a brazen raid to capture its president.
From Sea to Land: A New Phase in the 'War on Narco-Terrorists'
In an interview with Fox News, Trump stated, "we are going to start now hitting land", indicating a shift from recent naval operations. These operations targeted Venezuelan vessels allegedly ferrying narcotics across the Caribbean Sea to the US.
The President framed the cartels as a dire threat, claiming they are "running Mexico" and lamenting the situation as "very sad to watch". He further asserted the cartels are responsible for killing 250,000 to 300,000 people in the United States annually, a figure far exceeding official estimates of drug-related deaths.
This aggressive posture follows last week's extraordinary military raid inside Venezuela, which Trump authorised. The operation led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who now face narco-trafficking charges in the US.
Regional Power Play and Mexican Resistance
The strategy aligns with the Trump administration's recently published National Security Strategy, which prioritises restoring American pre-eminence in the Western Hemisphere. Trump also issued a warning to Colombia and its leftist President, Gustavo Petro, showcasing a broad regional approach.
When questioned by the New York Times about the limits of his foreign policy powers, Trump replied starkly: "My own mortality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me."
However, the threat of cross-border military action has been met with firm opposition from Mexico. President Claudia Sheinbaum criticised the Venezuela intervention, stating it never brings "lasting well-being or stability" and categorically rejecting intervention in other nations' internal affairs.
Sheinbaum downplayed the risk of a US invasion, noting ongoing coordination with Washington and insisting her relationship with Trump is one of "mutual respect". She confirmed the idea of US military help has been repeatedly offered and rejected, arguing that "organised crime is not taken care with (foreign military) intervention".
A 'Negotiation Weapon' Amidst Trade Talks
Analysts view Trump's threats as part of a calculated pressure tactic. Mexican security expert David Saucedo described them as a 'negotiation weapon' to secure commercial, diplomatic, and political advantages, particularly with the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) up for revision this year.
Saucedo suggested US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump play a "good cop, bad cop" routine, with threats followed by diplomatic smoothing.
Despite the rhetoric, experts note Mexico has largely complied with US requests since Trump began imposing tariffs. The Sheinbaum administration has been more aggressive against cartels than its predecessor, with increased arrests, drug seizures, and extraditions.
Political analyst Carlos Pérez Ricart warned that any US military action in Mexico would suspend this crucial cooperation, leaving the US without a partner and representing a significant risk. The standoff continues as Trump pushes a maximalist vision of American power in its own backyard.
