Military Strikes Against Drug Cartels Threaten Legal Norms and Long-Term U.S. Security

For decades, the United States has relied on a carefully constructed legal framework to combat the flow of narcotics from Latin America to our shores. The U.S. Coast Guard, backed by international partnerships and robust judicial procedures, has been at the forefront of intercepting drug shipments on the high seas while preserving the rule of law. Now, that long-standing approach is being upended by unprecedented military strikes authorized under the Trump administration, raising critical questions about legality, effectiveness, and national security. Is Waging War on Cartels Through Military Force a Step Too Far? The recent strike against a Venezuelan vessel...