Pentagon Blocks Trump’s Plan: No Drone Strikes on Cartels—For Now

Subhead: Despite labeling cartels as terrorists, U.S. generals say military strikes on Mexican soil remain unauthorized—raising questions about Trump’s next move.

A senior Pentagon official said Tuesday that U.S. Special Operations Forces do not have the authority to launch drone strikes against drug cartels in Mexico, despite President Donald Trump’s designation of those groups as foreign terrorist organizations.

Colby Jenkins, currently serving as Deputy Secretary of Defense for Special Operations, told a Senate committee that Trump’s designation does not automatically authorize the U.S. military to take direct action against the cartels.

In response to questioning from Senator Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat from Michigan, Jenkins said the designation “helps open the doors” to a broader government approach to the drug crisis.

Slotkin referenced Elon Musk, a Trump advisor on federal government reform, who claimed in a February 19th post on X that the foreign terrorist label would allow the U.S. to carry out drone strikes against cartels. Jenkins refuted that claim, saying it’s not the case, although the military can now prepare options if Trump chooses to escalate action at the border.

U.S. Northern Command has increased manned surveillance flights along the U.S.-Mexico border to monitor drug cartels and fentanyl movement. It is also expanding intelligence sharing with Mexico based on those flights, General Gregory Guillot told senators in February.

Additionally, U.S. drones are conducting surveillance over Mexican airspace, according to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

On February 19, Trump designated many gangs and cartels trafficking drugs into the U.S. as foreign terrorist organizations, escalating pressure on their operations and giving law enforcement what the State Department called “additional tools to go after these groups.”

General Guillot also told senators that he plans to request expanded congressional authority for more advisory and assistance operations between U.S. forces and Mexico’s Tier 1 special operations units.

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