As one of his last acts in office, former President Donald Trump escalated U.S. military operations against drug traffickers in the Caribbean. He sent a full complement of 10 F-35 stealth fighter jets to Puerto Rico. This decision doesn’t really jump out on its own, they’re broad military strategy. To that end, its mission is to help fight drug cartels tied to Nicolás Maduro’s Venezuelan regime.
In July, Trump signed a secret directive authorizing military operations against Latin American drug cartels labeled terrorist groups. A classified executive order triggered a recent drone attack. This operation ultimately resulted in the deaths of 11 people on an unarmed Venezuelan vessel in the Caribbean Sea. All of whom are accused by officials of running drug trafficking operations.
Trump framed this move as the start of old-fashioned military action against “bad dudes,” focusing attention on the threat posed by these groups. He has issued an unprecedented $50 million bounty on Maduro’s head. That’s twice what the U.S. had ever offered for Osama bin Laden!
In August, Trump’s administration showed the world just how serious it was about this initiative by sending warships and Marines to the Caribbean. US officials allege that Maduro leads the Cartel de los Soles, or Cartel of the Suns. This group is instrumental in long-range, transnational drug trafficking and distribution activities.
In recent statements made on Truth Social, Trump framed these military actions as crucial to protecting American citizens from the harmful effects of drug trafficking.
“Killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military,” – JD Vance
Trump’s aggressive stance has drawn mixed reactions. Grassroots opposition to the approach has been growing too, with prominent Republican critics including Senator Rand Paul. Paul raised important concerns about the effects of military action that targets people based only on allegations. He challenged the morality of these actions, raising tough, penetrating questions.
“JD ‘I don’t give a shit’ Vance says killing people he accuses of a crime is the ‘highest and best use of the military.’ Did he ever read To Kill a Mockingbird?” – Rand Paul
Vance’s remarks are a good indication of the overall attitude among Republicans who promote a strongman’s approach to authoritarian response to all threats in this country.
“Democrats: let’s send your kids to die in Russia. Republicans: actually let’s protect our people from the scum of the earth,” – JD Vance
Those developments suggest a shift to a markedly more militarized U.S. policy toward Latin America. This important transition carries with it great consequences for international relations and the domestic drug trafficking/national security nexus.