US President Donald Trump has said the United States is preparing to launch land-based military strikes against drug cartels, signaling a potential escalation of American operations beyond recent maritime attacks in the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
Trump made the remarks during an interview with Fox News broadcaster Sean Hannity that aired on Thursday night. He did not provide specific details on when or where the land strikes would take place but indicated that preparations were already underway.
According to Trump, the planned operations would target drug cartels, which he claimed have effectively taken control of Mexico. He said the United States was no longer limiting its actions to the sea and was ready to expand its campaign onto land.
The comments followed recent US military actions against alleged drug trafficking operations at sea. Since September, the United States has carried out strikes on suspected drug boats, resulting in the deaths of more than 100 people, according to statements previously made by Trump.
The president also said US forces had conducted a land strike in Venezuela targeting a docking area allegedly used by drug traffickers. That operation, he said, was part of a broader effort to disrupt narcotics networks in the region.
Trump’s latest statement comes shortly after the surprise capture of Venezuelan leader Nicholas Maduro last weekend. The arrest marked the climax of months of intensified US military and economic pressure against the leftist leader.
Washington has portrayed its actions in Venezuela as part of a campaign to restore stability and curb criminal activity. However, the strikes and Maduro’s capture have drawn criticism from regional actors.
The left-wing interim government in Caracas has condemned the US military actions, describing them as a threat to regional stability. Venezuelan officials warned that continued American intervention could worsen tensions across Latin America.
Trump’s suggestion of land strikes against drug cartels in Mexico has raised concerns about a significant escalation in US military involvement. Direct military action on Mexican soil would represent a major shift in US policy and could strain diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has publicly pushed back against the idea of foreign military intervention. Speaking on Monday, she said the Americas “do not belong” to any single power, responding to Trump’s comments about Washington’s “dominance” of the hemisphere.
Her remarks followed Trump’s statements after the capture of Maduro, in which he asserted US authority and influence across the region. Sheinbaum’s response was widely interpreted as a rejection of US military involvement in Mexico.
Trump has said he is pressing the Mexican president to allow US troops to operate against drug cartels inside Mexico. According to him, Sheinbaum had previously rejected such an offer.
The US president argued that the scale of cartel violence and drug trafficking justified stronger action. He has repeatedly accused cartels of fueling the flow of illegal drugs into the United States and contributing to rising crime and overdose deaths.
Analysts say any unilateral US military action in Mexico would be controversial and could provoke political backlash both domestically and internationally. Mexico has historically opposed foreign military operations on its territory, citing sovereignty concerns.
Trump did not explain how the proposed land strikes would be coordinated or whether they would involve cooperation with Mexican authorities. He also did not clarify whether Congress had been consulted on the potential expansion of military operations.
The White House has yet to release an official statement outlining the scope or legal basis for the proposed land strikes. US defense officials have also not publicly commented on Trump’s remarks.
The developments come amid heightened tensions in the Americas following recent US actions in Venezuela. Regional leaders have expressed concern that increased military operations could destabilize already fragile political and security situations.
Trump, however, has defended his approach as necessary to confront what he describes as powerful criminal organizations operating with impunity. He said the United States would continue to use all available tools to protect its interests and combat drug trafficking.
As the situation unfolds, attention is expected to focus on Mexico’s response and whether diplomatic efforts can prevent a broader military confrontation. The prospect of US land strikes against drug cartels marks a new and potentially volatile phase in Washington’s regional security strategy.
