President Donald Trump just told members of Congress that the United States is in "a non-intenational armed conflict" with drug cartels. 

This comes, according to Fox News, after the U.S. military, under President Trump's direction, has carried out multiple strikes on drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea.

None of this should really come as a surprise to anyone, as Trump did campaign on potentially using the U.S. military to combat drug cartels south of the border.

BREAKING: The Trump administration announces they are engaged in an "armed conflict with drug cartels," according to Fox News.

"Based upon the cumulative effects of these hostile acts against the citizens and interests of the United States and friendly foreign nations, the… pic.twitter.com/c65jqceRly

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 2, 2025

"Armed conflict"

The New York Times was the first to report on the memo that Trump sent to Congress on Thursday.

The outlet reports the memo as stating:

Based upon the cumulative effects of these hostile acts against the citizens and interests of the United States and friendly foreign nations, the president determined that the United States is in a noninternational armed conflict with these designated terrorist organizations.

Elsewhere in the memo, the Trump administration provides the rationale behind such action.

It, for example, writes:

The President directed the Department of War to conduct operations against them pursuant to the law of armed conflict. The United States has now reached a critical point where we must use force in self-defense and defense of others against the ongoing attacks by these designated terrorist organizations.

The administration also stated that Trump is using "his constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive to conduct foreign relations."

Background

Prior to this memo, we have seen several strikes by the U.S. military on these cartels.

The Hill reports:

The New York Times was the first to report on the notice, which comes after the Pentagon conducted three military strikes on boats Trump has claimed were carrying drugs bound for the United States. The attacks killed all 17 people aboard the vessels — at least two of which originated from Venezuela — with the administration insisting they were lawful despite no public proof that the boats contained drugs.

Some in Congress, especially the Democrats, are pushing back on this action.

They insist, according to The Hill, that "Trump must seek war powers authority from Congress before conducting such operations."

The memo is Trump's response to this criticism.