Trump Administration Claims US Engaged in Armed Conflict with Latin American Cartels
The Trump administration has sparked controversy by claiming that the United States is now engaged in an "armed conflict" with Latin American cartels, a novel legal theory that could have far-reaching implications. According to sources, this move comes as part of the administration's efforts to justify recent military strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats.
The notification was provided by senior Pentagon officials as part of an attempt to explain the Trump administration's legal arguments for the strikes, including a classified document obtained by The Guardian. The document, which was provided to Congress, claims that the US is now in a non-international armed conflict with the cartels, according to a person familiar with the notification.
This move has sparked debate about the scope of military authority and the definition of conflict. "The administration is trying to justify strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats by advancing a novel legal theory," said a source close to the matter. "They are claiming that the US is now in an armed conflict with these cartels, which could have significant implications for the use of military force."
The claim is being made under a US law requiring congressional notification for the use of armed forces. The administration has faced international criticism over last month's strikes in the Caribbean, which killed 17 people. "This move is an attempt to justify their actions and avoid accountability," said a senior official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The Trump administration's claim that the US is engaged in an armed conflict with Latin American cartels raises questions about the definition of conflict and the scope of military authority. According to international law, an armed conflict requires a certain level of intensity and organization among the parties involved. However, the administration's claim appears to be based on a more expansive interpretation of this concept.
"This is a novel legal theory that could have significant implications for the use of military force," said Mark Kersten, a senior fellow at the Human Rights Watch. "If the US is engaged in an armed conflict with these cartels, it raises questions about the limits of military authority and the need for congressional oversight."
The current status of the situation remains unclear, but experts warn that this move could have far-reaching implications for the use of military force and the role of Congress in overseeing national security policy. As one senior official noted, "This is a slippery slope, and we need to be careful about where we're going with this."
This story was compiled from reports by The Guardian and The Guardian.
