Trump tells Congress US is in ‘armed conflict’ with cartels

The memo, first obtained by the Washington Examiner, told members of Congress that the US is involved in a "non-international armed conflict” with the cartels.

“The President directed these actions consistent with his responsibility to protect Americans and United States interests abroad and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to his constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive to conduct foreign relations,” the memo read. The memorandum was sent to congressional committees but did not say what cartels were in direct conflict with the US.

“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 memorandum added.

Spokesman for the White House Anna Kelly said, "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."

Earlier this year, the Trump administration also deployed troops as well as warships to the coast of Latin America in a move to tamp down the cartels' influence in the region. Along with the airstrikes on boats, Trump said that he will "look very seriously at cartels coming by land" in addition to the drug trafficking happening at sea.