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When the U.S. Army destroys a Tren de Aragua Drug Runner’s Clippers opened on Tuesday with missiles, opening a new chapter in the drug war and defense of defending the Western Hemisphere. Tren de Aragua is a designated terrorist organization and invading force. Tactically speaking, this strike is no different from hitting ISIS or Houthi targets in the Middle East.
“If you are on a boat filled with cocaine or fentanyl, or heading to the United States, you are posing a direct threat to the United States.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a speech in Mexico City.
“I have been saying that law enforcement solutions are not enough to address these global terrorists operating in the Western Hemisphere,” Derek Maltz, a former acting DEA chief, told USA Today.
Trump warns Maduro on strike of cartel ship beside Venezuela: No shelter
This is the real America. President Donald Trump is the first U.S. leader to establish a policy framework for direct military operations against cartels. His new approach also makes Americans more transparent about how he plans to execute it. Part of the shock factor is that Americans have few opportunities to see American military forces acting nearby.
Trump hopes to be made public. Videos of Tuesday’s strike were marked as unclassified as bright green, meaning officials have removed the scope and location data that are usually seen around the frame.
The strike is explicitly calculated, possibly through communication interception and maritime surveillance support. The weapon could be a helicopter or other anti-Fleet missile. The lens is likely to be captured by a drone. Regardless of the platform, this is clear: the United States will not tolerate cartel activities.
Trump touts us on strike as Maduro slams Venezuela’s military “threat”
The strike was a direct message to Tren de Aragua’s Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as “Niño Guerrero”. According to the Ministry of Finance, he has turned the TDA of the Venezuelan prison gang into a “increasingly influential organization throughout the Western Hemisphere.”
TDA is more than just a cartel. Yes, it’s the same Tren de Aragua whose members took over the Aspen Grove apartment building Aurora, Coloradolast year.
Its activities include drug trafficking, human smuggling, blackmail, sexual exploitation, money laundering, and more. The organization also promoted a massive migration to the United States during its presidency Joe Biden An era of openness.
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As far as policy is concerned, the Trump administration has taken two major steps. First, Rubio designated TDA and other cartels as foreign terrorist organizations on February 20, 2025. Then on March 15, Trump cited the Foreign Enemy Act to declare TDA “force” and “driving, attempting and threatening to invade or predatory fight against U.S. territory.”
It is a language: “I discovered and declared that the TDA is taking hostile action and conducting irregular wars against U.S. territory directly and in the direction of the Maduro Corgime in Venezuela. I conducted the Maduro Corgime in Venezuela. I made these discoveries on a comprehensive scale through my authority to carry out national diplomatic affairs under the constitutional system,” March 15.
Therefore, there is your legal basis. It’s like a Tom Clancy thriller, but this time, everything stands out in public – offering more military options.
At first, emerging policies were hardly noticed, attacked by Houthi and B-2 strike against Iran. But the US military is preparing. On August 14, the scheduled 22nd Marine Expeditionary Department deployed the ISS IWO JIMA Amphibious Preparation Team, with its MV-22, F-35B fighter jets, helicopters, four destroyers and other ships in strike positions. Maduro enters Venezuela Panic. Russia accused the United States of putting “blatant pressure” on Venezuela.
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Rubio hints more. Rubio is Mexico City. This is a signal that the United States will defend its interests in the Western Hemisphere. The Navy has a large number of anti-Fleet missiles that can lower each Clipper cartel can launch.
President James Monroe will be proud of it.
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