President Donald Trump has “determined” that the United States is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels that he has designated as terrorist organizations, according to a memo to Congress. 
The memo reportedly sent this week said that the American military remained ready to eliminate drug smugglers and that the country was at a “critical point” requiring the use of force. It comes as the Trump administration has conducted multiple strikes on boats the president said were filled with narcoterrorists bound for the United States.
“The President determined these cartels are non-state armed groups, designated them as terrorist organizations, and determined that their actions constitute an armed attack against the United States,” the memo <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/trump-determined-us-armed-conflict-cartels-congress-notice-rcna235294">said</a>, according to NBC News. &#8220;In response, based upon the cumulative effects of these hostile acts against the citizens and interests of the United States and friendly foreign nations, the President determined that the United States is in a non-international armed conflict with these designated terrorist organizations.&#8221;
Violent gangs like Tren de Aragua and MS-13 have all been <a href="https://www.state.gov/designation-of-international-cartels">designated</a> as foreign terrorist organizations by the State Department. 
The memo <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/02/white-house-war-drug-smugglers-00592369?utm_content=politico/magazine/Politics&amp;utm_source=flipboard">added</a> that the administration remained “postured to carry out military operations as necessary to prevent further deaths or injury to American citizens by eliminating the threat.”
“The United States has now reached a critical point where we must use force in self-defense and defense of others against the ongoing attacks by these designated terrorist organizations,” the memo <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cartels-armed-conflict-cb57804807e55a00ace60ad5f4d4f24d">said</a>. 
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Last month, the Trump administration carried out a series of strikes on drug-running boats, the president said. The first, on September 2, targeted a vessel operated by Tren de Aragua that had departed Venezuela loaded with “a lot of drugs,” according to Trump.
Another strike was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-blows-up-another-boatful-of-narcoterrorists-we-are-hunting-you">conducted</a> on September 15 that killed three male drug traffickers operating a boat carrying drugs in the Caribbean Sea, according to the Department of War. 
The Trump administration has said the strikes are necessary to protect the country from dangerous drugs. 
“As we have said many times, the President acted in line with the law of armed conflict to protect our country from those trying to bring deadly poison to our shores, and he is delivering on his promise to take on the cartels and eliminate these national security threats from murdering more Americans,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said on the memo to Congress. 

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Trump To Congress: U.S. In ‘Armed Conflict’ With ‘Terrorist’ Drug Cartels

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Trump To Congress: U.S. In ‘Armed Conflict’ With ‘Terrorist’ Drug Cartels