Pentagon confirms US military cannot conduct drone strikes on Mexican drug cartels

In the context of ongoing U.S.-Mexico border security discussions, Colby Jenkins, assistant defense secretary for special operations, recently clarified that U.S. military special operations forces lack the authority to carry out drone strikes against drug cartels operating in Mexico. This statement was made during a Senate committee hearing amidst rising pressures to address drug trafficking issues, particularly concerning fentanyl. While it was noted that President Donald Trump designated these cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, Jenkins explained that this designation does not automatically grant the military the capacity to engage in direct action against such entities. Jenkins emphasized that although the designation aids in broadening government strategies to tackle the drug crisis, direct military engagement remains outside their current legal authority. The discussion was sparked by questioning from Senator Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat, highlighting public sentiments and opinions around this pivotal matter. Noteworthy is the fact that Elon Musk, an adviser to Trump, had previously suggested on social media that the designation would permit U.S. drone strikes, a claim that Jenkins firmly rejected. As part of enhanced measures against drug cartels, U.S. Northern Command has ramped up its surveillance operations along the Mexico-U.S. border to monitor cartel movements. This includes increased manned surveillance flights and the utilization of unmanned drones to conduct aerial observations of Mexican airspace. General Gregory Guillot, commander of U.S. Northern Command, reported these developments in a Senate hearing, indicating that intelligence sharing with Mexico has also been bolstered as a collaborative effort to tackle the drug Trade effectively. Furthermore, General Guillot expressed intentions to seek expanded authority from Congress to facilitate direct collaboration and support missions between U.S. forces and elite Mexican special forces units. Such initiatives reflect a striving commitment to improve border security and combat the illicit drug trade, aligning law enforcement efforts between the two neighboring countries.