The U.S. War Secretary has issued a stern warning to drug cartels operating in international waters, stating they will be sunk if they transport narcotics towards the United States. Pete Hegseth affirmed President Trump’s unilateral authority to employ military action “as he sees fit” to protect the country. During a speech in California, Hegseth equated the threat posed by drug cartels to that of terrorist organizations, declaring, “If you’re working for a designated terrorist organisation and you bring drugs to this country in a boat, we will find you and we will sink you.” This tough stance has resulted in escalating military strikes in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. A recent operation, sanctioned by Hegseth, destroyed a vessel carrying illicit drugs, resulting in the deaths of four individuals identified as “narco-terrorists.” These actions, while criticized by some as war crimes, have led to over 80 fatalities.
