In a promising step, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring fentanyl a WMD. This classification was a direct response to the increasing, urgent overdose death epidemic involving synthetic opioids. These drugs from the pharmaceutical industry have quickly become the number one cause of death in the United States. Fentanyl is responsible for tens of thousands of overdose deaths each year. Unsurprisingly, this crisis has highlighted the necessity for a robust and effective response.
Trump’s decision underscores the administration’s belief that fentanyl presents a national security threat comparable to chemical warfare. As the now-former president put it, “We’re officially declaring fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction, which is what it is.” The Pentagon should help law enforcement to defeat this drug crisis. Moreover, counter-proliferation tools can be brought to bear against drug traffickers by intelligence agencies.
Fentanyl seems to be everywhere these days on American streets. This increase is primarily because of where it comes from—Mexico, which is now the biggest supplier of illegal fentanyl entering the U.S. A lot of the chemicals used to produce it—known as precursors—come from China, making efforts to curb its spread even more difficult. Trump’s administration militarily escalated operations to stop this flow. They executed 500 strikes against suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific. In just a few months, these operations have already led to the death of over 80 people.
The executive order promotes Trump’s earlier proposed Action to designate drug cartels foreign terrorist organization. This controversial step could provide legal cover for direct military action against these groups. The administration views this tough line as key to restoring U.S. leadership in the Western Hemisphere. They are well-aware of the growing imperative to address the growing drug trafficking crisis.
Since early September, Trump’s administration has increased its militarized strategy to interdict drug trafficking routes. We know they haven’t ruled out leading these strikes on land, in countries in the region such as Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico. This strategy reflects an admirable determination to look beyond fentanyl as simply a dangerous narcotic. No surprise, then, that it is recognized as an existential threat that requires extraordinary action.
“Illicit fentanyl is closer to a chemical weapon than a narcotic,” – Trump’s order
This narrow classification has huge ramifications. Yet, it is symbolic of a change in how the federal government will engage with both domestic and international actors in the fentanyl ecosystem. Trump is correct to frame this as a national security issue. His stated goals are to mobilize more resources and improve coordination between the feds and other agencies.