Agência Brasil - EBC
In a sharp escalation of the US war on drugs, the Secretary of Defense has vowed to “hunt and kill” narco-terrorists responsible for trafficking opioids and fentanyl across the southern border. The strong rhetoric marks a shift from treating drug trafficking solely as a law enforcement issue to a national security threat requiring military intervention. The Pentagon outlined plans to use special operations forces and precision strikes to dismantle cartel leadership structures, equating their operations to those of traditional terrorist organizations.
The initiative has sparked immediate tension with Mexico, where sovereignty concerns run high. While the US administration insists that these operations are necessary to save American lives, Mexican officials have warned that unilateral military action on their soil would be a violation of international law. The Pentagon chief, however, remained firm, stating that the “poisoning of American citizens” constitutes an attack that justifies a lethal response against the supply chain’s source.
Intelligence reports suggest that the new strategy will focus on high-value targets and the destruction of clandestine labs. Critics argue that a militarized approach has failed historically and could lead to increased violence and instability in the region. Nonetheless, the administration appears committed to a “shock and awe” tactic against the cartels, signaling a volatile new chapter in US-Latin American relations.
