Donald Trump has announced a crackdown on drug cartels, citing the influx of narcotics like fentanyl into the U.S. as a key driver of his broader trade disputes. Several cartels have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the Trump administration. In a recent escalation, the administration quietly authorized the use of military force against drug cartels through a Pentagon directive. This resulted in a U.S. drone strike on a Venezuelan vessel in international waters, resulting in the deaths of all 11 individuals on board. The specter of further military actions looms over countries like Venezuela and Mexico, both targeted in Trump’s anti-cartel campaign.
Alexander Aviña, a professor of Latin American history at Arizona State University, sheds light on the repercussions of these recent developments and examines the historical effectiveness of drug war strategies.
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