WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 2, 2025 — The Trump administration formally notified Congress today that the United States is in a "non-international armed conflict" with certain drug cartels designated as terrorist organizations, a move that provides a legal justification for a recent series of deadly U.S. military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean.
The declaration follows weeks of heightened tension and military action off the coast of Venezuela, an oil-rich nation whose President, Nicolás Maduro, and top military officials the U.S. has accused of direct involvement with drug trafficking groups.
New Legal Framework for Military Action
The administration's memo, obtained by several news outlets, asserts that the trafficking of illicit drugs into the U.S. constitutes an "armed attack" on American citizens, therefore requiring the use of military force in self-defense.
Strikes and Casualties: The notification comes after the U.S. military has conducted at least three lethal strikes in the Caribbean since early September, targeting boats allegedly operated by drug traffickers. The first two strikes, which the administration claimed targeted the Venezuelan-based Tren de Aragua gang, killed at least 14 people and drew international condemnation.
"Unlawful Combatants": The administration's memo referred to those killed in the strikes as "unlawful combatants," a legal term previously used to describe members of Al-Qaeda and other terror networks.
Congressional Scrutiny: The declaration has faced immediate scrutiny from members of Congress from both parties, who question the administration's legal justification and view the move as an extraordinary assertion of presidential war powers without seeking a formal Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF).
Maduro Threatens State of Emergency
In Caracas, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his government have condemned the U.S. actions as "extrajudicial killings" and an "undeclared war" aimed at regime change.
Military Drills: On August 28, large-scale military exercises were held across Venezuela, where President Maduro asserted the armed forces are stronger and more prepared to defend "peace, sovereignty, and territorial integrity."
Special Powers: Earlier this week, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez announced that Maduro had signed a decree to grant himself "special powers"—including the authority to mobilize the military, place the oil industry under military control, and declare a state of emergency—should the U.S. launch an attack.
9 U.S. Intentions: While the U.S. claims the objective is to dismantle drug cartels, Venezuelan officials and analysts suggest the real goal is to seize the country’s vast natural resources, particularly its oil reserves.
10 Unnamed U.S. officials have reportedly told major news outlets that military planners are drawing up options to target drug traffickers inside Venezuela with air raids, further fueling Caracas' fears of a full-scale incursion.11
The escalation has drawn comparisons to the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama to topple Manuel Noriega. The U.S. Navy's presence in the Caribbean now includes a significant deployment of warships, including destroyers, a nuclear-powered submarine, and F-35 stealth fighters positioned in Puerto Rico.
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