Pentagon: US Can’t Legally Target Mexican Cartels with Drone Strikes

A top Pentagon official has stated that special operations forces cannot use drones in Mexico, even though President Donald Trump declared these organizations terrorist groups.

Colby Jenkins is currently the Assistant Defence Secretary for Special Operations. He told a Senate Committee the designation of Trump does not give the U.S. Military authority to take action against cartels.

Jenkins replied to Michigan Democrat Senator Elissa Slotkin’s question that it “helps open the doors” for a broader government approach in tackling drug abuse.

Slotkin noted that Elon Musk, a top adviser to Trump on overhauling the federal government, has said the foreign terrorist designation means the U.S. can conduct drone strikes against the cartels. Musk posted that on Feb. 19 on X.

Jenkins said that the military does not have any plans to increase border security. However, the military will be ready with options if Trump decides to do so.

Gen. Gregory Guillot told senators that U.S. Northern Command has increased the number of manned surveillance flights along the U.S. Mexico Border. These flights are used to monitor the drug cartels and fentanyl movements, as well as to increase intelligence sharing.

According to the Mexican President, Claudia Sheinbaum, there are also unmanned U.S. Drones that conduct surveillance over Mexico’s Airspace.

Trump designated many of the gangs and cartels moving those drugs into the U.S. as foreign terrorist organizations on Feb. 19, further increasing the pressure on their ability to move and providing law enforcement with what the State Department said are “additional tools to stop these groups.”

Guillot is the commander of U.S. Northern Command. He told Senators that he would also ask Congress for increased authority to be able to conduct more “advice-and-assist” type operations between our forces and Tier One Mexican Forces. These are their Special Forces.