President Donald Trump has officially labeled South American drug cartels as unlawful combatants and declared the United States is in an “armed conflict” against them.

Recent U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean targeted cartel-operated boats, destroying drug shipments and killing several members. The administration says the move is necessary to protect Americans, while critics warn it dangerously expands presidential war powers without congressional approval.

This marks a major shift in U.S. policy — turning the war on drugs from a criminal justice issue into a full-scale military campaign.