The country’s best security minister in years must contend with drug cartels, Donald Trump and assassins’ bullets https://t.co/qCfZcllX78 ...

Foreign Policy & Security - Americans are open to getting tougher on drug cartels [1] - The Administration needs to explain the rationale for potential military action involving individuals like Adm Bradley [1] - The President's powers to conduct foreign policy deserve a wide berth [1]

Foreign Policy & Security - The report suggests Americans are receptive to a stricter stance against drug cartels [1] - The report highlights the need for the Administration to justify potential military actions involving personnel like Adm Bradley [1] - The report emphasizes the importance of granting the President considerable authority in conducting foreign policy [1]

President Donald Trump suggested the Pentagon will soon start targeting drug cartels with strikes on land in Venezuela and beyond, after a campaign that has mainly focused on alleged trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean. https://t.co/oH5tn2FasD ...

We begin this morning with what is shaping up to be a critical week in foreign policy. Starting with new escalation of what the Trump administration calls a war against drug cartels in Venezuela. On Saturday, President Trump declared on Truth Social, quote, "To all airlines pilots, drug leaders, drug dealers, and human traffickers, please consider the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela to be closed in its entirety." Of course, it's not entirely clear what he may mean by that since he doesn't have the ...

Mexican authorities issued an arrest warrant for the co-owner of the Miss Universe franchise, the latest in a growing controversy involving a beauty queen, drug cartels and the state oil company https://t.co/A78mM8dInW ...

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]

They connect rich Chinese, drug cartels and North Korean hackers—without anyone meeting https://t.co/kXMUCMnhSn ...

Policy & Geopolitics - US President considering military strikes against drug cartels in Mexico and cocaine factories in Colombia [1][2] - Over 90% of cocaine smuggled into the US is produced in Colombia [2] - US President does not rule out deploying US troops in Venezuela [3] - US President is open to speaking with Venezuela's leader, Nicolas Maduro [3][4] - White House insists boat strikes are legal, and the President would probably go to Congress if expanding them [5] Legal & Ethical Concerns - Critics argue that the boat strikes are illegal and create major problems for the US [5]

The Trump administration and Mexico targeted gambling establishments with alleged financial links to Latin American drug cartels, with the US sanctioning several individuals and 10 casinos https://t.co/hW9KpkvvV5 ...