Defence chief: US considers airstrikes on Mexican drug cartels

The United States has not ruled out the possibility of conducting air strikes on the locations of drug cartels operating within Mexico, according to US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

In a statement made during a visit to the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay on February 27, Hegseth said, “All options are on the table. We are not ruling anything out. We will do everything we can to protect America, its sovereignty, and its citizens.”

His remarks came in response to a question posed by Fox News about potential military actions against Mexican drug cartels, per Caliber.Az.

Hegseth’s statement reflects the escalating US concerns over the activities of transnational criminal organizations that operate in Mexico and extend their influence into the US. He made these remarks during a visit to Guantanamo Bay, a US military installation leased from Cuba since 1903. The base, which has been a key strategic site, is home to the controversial prison that was established under President George W. Bush in 2002 as part of the broader War on Terror.

The US government’s stance on tackling drug-related violence became more evident on February 19, when the US officially designated eight prominent drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Among those named were the Mexican Sinaloa and Jalisco Nueva Generacion cartels, as well as the international Tren de Aragua, MS-13, and Clan del Golfo. Other groups, such as Unidos, Noreste, and La Nueva Familia Michoacana, were also included on the list.

President Donald Trump has long advocated for tougher measures against criminal organizations and illegal migration. Since taking office, Trump has repeatedly called for more aggressive policies to combat drug cartels and human trafficking.

As part of his immigration and border security initiatives, Trump signed an executive order to impose an emergency regime at the US-Mexico border and directed both the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security to expand migrant detention facilities at the Guantanamo Bay base.

The expansion, aimed at accommodating up to 30,000 detainees, has sparked further discussions about the US military’s role in border security and its potential involvement in dealing with cartels operating beyond US borders.

By Tamilla Hasanova