Trump Hints at Potential Ground Strikes Against Drug Cartels in Mexico

U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested the possibility of launching ground operations against drug cartels, signaling a potential escalation in his administration’s campaign against what he called “gang-affiliated terrorists” in Latin America. 

The remarks come months after U.S. attacks on vessels suspected of smuggling drugs and just days after a U.S. military operation in Venezuela that led to the arrest of its leader, Nicolás Maduro.

In an interview with Fox News, Trump stated: “We have eliminated 97% of the drugs coming by sea, and now we will start hitting the cartels on land. The cartels control Mexico, it is very sad to see what has happened to this country.” He added that potential ground strikes could expand the scope of U.S. military operations and might even include actions on Mexican soil.

Since September, the U.S. administration has conducted over 30 attacks on boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific, resulting in at least 115 casualties. The operations were justified on the grounds that the vessels were transporting drugs into the United States.