US warns cartels as cross-border tensions deepen over military operations: Video
US Secretary of War Peter Hegseth issued a stark warning to drug cartels on Wednesday, declaring that the US military is prepared to take direct action against groups involved in trafficking.
Speaking at the Indiana Defence Summit in Fort Wayne, Hegseth said the armed forces would use advanced “mapping” and tracking techniques to identify and eliminate foreign organisations designated as terrorists. “If you’re trafficking drugs to poison the American people, we will find you and we will kill you,” he said.
Hegseth praised the deployment of Stryker platoons working alongside US Border Patrol agents as part of efforts to tighten security along the Mexican border, framing the operations as essential to protecting national safety. The secretary also announced the new Defence Medal, intended to formally recognise personnel serving in these missions.
The comments come amid rising tensions with Mexico, whose president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has reiterated that the country will not permit the deployment of US troops on its territory under the banner of anti-narcotics operations. Despite this, multiple US media outlets report that Washington has already begun planning for a mission that would send American troops and intelligence officers into Mexico to target cartel networks more directly.
Meanwhile, Washington has acknowledged carrying out dozens of strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling vessels since September, in operations that have reportedly killed at least 70 people. Venezuela has denied the accusations of trafficking and dismissed the military actions as “imperialist”, accusing the United States of pursuing destabilisation and attempting to force political change in the country.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
