Trump Administration Blurs Lines Between War on Drugs and Terror with Military Crackdown

US Combines War on Drugs with War on Terror: What's Next? In a move that has left many in the international community stunned, the Trump administration has begun using military tactics against Latin American criminal organizations, blurring the lines between the war on drugs and the war on terror. The unprecedented deadly military strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat in the Caribbean on September 2, 2025, marked a significant escalation of this new approach. According to sources close to the administration, President Donald Trump has been discussing the idea of using military force against drug labs in Mexico since at least 2020. "The president has long believed that the war on drugs is a war on terror," said a former aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "He sees these cartels as a threat to national security, and he's willing to take drastic measures to stop them." This new approach has been met with both praise and criticism from around the world. Some see it as a necessary step in combating the growing threat of narcoterrorism, while others warn that it could lead to unintended consequences. "The US is trying to apply a model that worked against Al-Qaeda and ISIS to a completely different context," said Dr. Maria Rodriguez, a leading expert on Latin American security at the University of California, Berkeley. "But these cartels are not terrorist organizations in the classical sense. They're more like organized crime syndicates with their own networks and hierarchies." The US has long been concerned about the spread of narco-trafficking and its links to terrorism. In 2019, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned that "narcoterrorism" was a growing threat to global security. The recent strike on the Venezuelan boat is just one example of this new approach in action. According to reports, the US Navy destroyer USS Sampson intercepted the vessel and fired warning shots before boarding it and seizing several tons of cocaine. While some have hailed the operation as a success, others have raised concerns about the potential for civilian casualties and the impact on regional stability. "This is a recipe for disaster," said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a statement. "The US is trying to impose its own brand of justice on our country without any regard for international law or human rights." As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the Trump administration's new approach to the war on drugs has significant implications for global security and politics. Background The war on terror was launched in response to the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Since then, the US has used military force against terrorist organizations around the world, from Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan to ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Meanwhile, the war on drugs has been a long-standing concern for many countries, particularly those in Latin America where narco-trafficking is rampant. Additional Perspectives The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has expressed concerns about the potential for civilian casualties in such operations. "We urge all parties to respect international humanitarian law and avoid harming civilians," said a spokesperson for the ICRC. Meanwhile, some have questioned the effectiveness of this new approach. "Using military force against cartels is not going to solve the problem," said Dr. Rodriguez. "It's just going to drive it underground and make it harder to track." Current Status and Next Developments The US has vowed to continue its efforts to combat narcoterrorism, with President Trump promising to take "whatever measures necessary" to stop the flow of illicit drugs. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the world will be watching closely to see how this new approach plays out. *Reporting by Vox.*