DOJ memo about boat strikes diverges from Trump narrative: The Guardian

US-Latin America Relations & Drug Enforcement - The US Department of Justice (DOJ) argues that military actions against drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific are justified as self-defense on behalf of allies like Mexico and Colombia against cartel violence [3] - The DOJ's justification hinges on the argument that drug cartels are engaged in "armed violence," allowing the US to use lethal force [3] - The DOJ's legal framework relies on the premise that cartels are primarily focused on waging war rather than making money through drug trafficking [9] - The administration claims these allies requested help confidentially due to fear of cartel reprisals [8] Discrepancies & Lack of Evidence - President Trump's public explanation for the strikes focuses on preventing US overdose deaths, contrasting with the DOJ's justification based on assisting allies against cartel violence [1][4] - There is a lack of public evidence to support the claim that Mexico and Colombia specifically requested US military intervention to combat cartel violence [5][7] - The argument that cartels are primarily interested in waging war, rather than making money, is inconsistent with the historical understanding of Latin American drug gangs [6][9] International Law Concerns - Multiple organizations and voices have stated that these strikes are in violation of international law [6] - For the legal framework to be valid, there needs to be a specific request for help from the country where the US is intervening in an armed conflict [9]