Trump Orders Pentagon to Target Drug Cartels, Plans Alaska Summit with Putin on Ukraine

Washington, D.C. — U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly authorized the Pentagon to prepare military action against Latin American drug cartels, escalating his administration’s fight against cross-border narcotics operations.

According to multiple reports, the classified directive grants the U.S. military authority to target cartel infrastructure and leadership, even outside American territory. The move follows the administration’s designation of major cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, opening the door for more aggressive counter-terrorism-style tactics.

The order has drawn a swift response from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who reiterated that no U.S. military intervention in Mexico will be tolerated, insisting her government can address cartel violence domestically.

In parallel to the military planning, President Trump is preparing for a high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska. The talks are expected to focus on ending the ongoing war in Ukraine, with sources suggesting Trump may propose controversial territorial arrangements to secure a peace deal — an idea that has already stirred concern among European allies.

The dual moves — a militarized approach to drug cartels and direct diplomacy with Moscow — signal an assertive shift in U.S. foreign and security policy as the administration attempts to project strength both in the Western Hemisphere and on the global stage.