President Donald Trump has escalated the fight against Latin American drug cartels by using military force and legal arguments originally crafted for the post-September 11 war on terror. The administration has authorized lethal strikes against suspected drug traffickers, particularly targeting groups linked to Venezuela, without congressional approval or traditional legal investigations. Legal scholars and international observers warn that these actions stretch the boundaries of international law and risk diplomatic fallout, especially as the United States considers covert operations against the Venezuelan government. Despite questions about the evidence behind the strikes and the legality of bypassing congressional authority, the Trump administration continues to defend its approach, even as critics note that most American overdose deaths are linked to drugs trafficked from Mexico, not Venezuela.