President Donald Trump signed a new U.S. counterterrorism strategy that designates eliminating drug cartels as the administration's highest priority, according to White House announcements.
Key Takeaways
President Trump signed a new counterterrorism strategy prioritizing drug cartels as top threats alongside Islamist groups and violent political extremists. The 16-page document outlines plans to target cartel funding and operations while pressing allies for greater cooperation.
- New U.S. counterterrorism strategy elevates drug cartels to primary threat level
- Strategy includes targeting Islamic militant groups, violent secular political factions, and preventing nonstate actors from obtaining weapons of mass destruction
- Administration has conducted military strikes on alleged cartel vessels in Latin American waters
- Trump seeks closer cooperation with regional leaders against cartels
The 16-page document was released after an updated national security strategy focused on the Western Hemisphere. It emphasizes targeting Islamic militant groups with capabilities against the United States, neutralizing violent secular political groups with anti-American ideologies, and preventing nonstate actors from obtaining weapons of mass destruction.
Sebastian Gorka, White House counterterrorism czar who spearheaded the strategy, stated that more Americans have been killed by cartels than in all U.S. conflicts since World War II. The administration has conducted military strikes on alleged cartel vessels and pressured regional leaders to combat drug traffickers.
The Republican administration's campaign against alleged drug-trafficking vessels began in early September, resulting in at least 191 deaths. Trump seeks closer cooperation with allies to bolster counterterrorism efforts, emphasizing that partners must contribute more to shared security goals.
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