The United States is sending over 4,500 Marines and sailors to the waters around Latin America and the Caribbean to strengthen efforts in the battle against drug cartels. Defense officials describe the move as a major show of force, giving President Trump a variety of military options to tackle these groups.
The deployment involves the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group from Naval Station Norfolk and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The group includes the flagship USS Iwo Jima, the transport dock ships USS San Antonio and USS Fort Lauderdale, an attack submarine, reconnaissance aircraft, multiple destroyers, and a guided-missile cruiser.
"Total Elimination" of Cartels
Readers are reminded that on the first day of his second term, President Trump issued Executive Order 14157, declaring cartels a national security threat due to their activities, proximity, and incursions into US territory. He vowed a policy of “total elimination” of cartels, a commitment reiterated in subsequent administration memos. Last week, Threat Journal reported on the President’s orders authorizing the military to use force on land and sea against Latin American drug cartels classified as foreign terrorist organizations, such as Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles, and gangs like MS-13.
This deployment marks the most aggressive action President Trump has taken against groups trafficking drugs like fentanyl across the US-Mexico border, activities previously under the purview of federal law enforcement.
On Friday, the US Navy announced the deployment of these forces without specifying their exact destination, noting their readiness for various global contingency missions. The buildup primarily serves as a deterrent, signaling strength rather than immediate action against the cartels, though it equips US commanders and the President with flexible response options.
Other efforts of the administration compliment these deployments. The Department of Justice is aggressively targeting cartel and gang leaders in the US. The Dept. of the Treasury is targeting Mexico’s fuel smuggling sector, blacklisting bulk cash launderers at the border, and sanctioning Mexican financial institutions linked to illicit opioid trafficking. Meanwhile, the State Department is smoothing the feathers of foreign leaders, like Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who, at least publicly, opposes any US military action in her country.
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