Topic: Cartel Strikes

Donald Trump announces plans for kinetic military strikes against drug cartels in Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela. He characterizes Colombia as a "drug den" and Mexico as being "run by cartels," asserting that the U.S. must defend itself against the 300,000 annual deaths caused by fentanyl. The action is framed as a modern application of the Monroe Doctrine to protect the Western Hemisphere.

Ivan Reikland analyzes the legality of U.S. military strikes against Venezuelan drug cartels, distinguishing them from unconstitutional strikes on American citizens. He argues that the U.S. must reassert its regional primacy in the Western Hemisphere to combat groups like Tren de Aragua. Reikland frames the current administration's actions as a necessary response to the "ceding of sovereignty" by previous leadership.