The Trump administration is planning a military operation that would send US troops into Mexico to target drug labs and cartel leaders.
According to a report by NBC News, two US officials and one former senior official said the mission is in the early stages of planning and training. The proposed operation would center around drone strikes against cartel figures and drug production sites, which requires operators on the ground in Mexico for effective and safe use.
While discussions are ongoing, officials emphasized that deployment is not imminent and that final decisions about the mission’s scope have not been made.
If approved, the mission would operate under Title 50 authority, meaning US forces would act under the direction of the intelligence community. CIA officers could also take part in the effort.
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has stepped up its campaign against drug cartels, including military strikes on drug boats. Ground operations in Mexico would represent a more overt approach than past administrations’ covert actions in Latin America. Officials said that if the plan moves forward, the White House intends to maintain a degree of secrecy surrounding the operation.
“The Trump administration is committed to utilizing an all-of-government approach to address the threats cartels pose to American citizens,” a senior administration official said in response to the report, according to NBC News.
Shortly after taking office, President Trump designated several major Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, granting intelligence and military agencies broader legal authority to act against them. That list included MS-13 and the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Earlier this month, Trump confirmed he had authorized CIA operations inside Venezuela as part of his administration’s crackdown on drug networks in the region.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has repeatedly voiced opposition to US military involvement on Mexican soil. In April, she stated at a press conference, “We reject any form of intervention or interference. That’s been very clear, Mexico coordinates and collaborates, but does not subordinate itself.”
