NBC: US planning new operation against drug cartels in Mexico

The administration of US President Donald Trump has begun detailed planning for a new operation to combat drug cartels in Mexico.

The plan includes deploying American military personnel and intelligence officers to carry out ground operations on Mexican territory, NBC reports, citing two US officials and two former senior US officials familiar with the effort.

The scale of the mission is still under discussion, and no final decision has been made. US forces are expected to primarily use drones to strike cartel bases and leadership targets.

A potential US mission targeting drug cartel sites inside Mexico would mark a major expansion of President Donald Trump’s military campaign against narcotics networks in the Western Hemisphere.

Until now, the administration’s efforts have centred on Venezuela and operations against boats allegedly transporting drugs.

Unlike previous US administrations—which limited involvement in Mexico to covert CIA, military, and law enforcement assistance for local forces without engaging directly—this mission would authorise American troops to take direct action.

If approved, officials plan to keep the operation secret and avoid publicly disclosing its activities, in contrast to the recent publicised strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels.

The US officials said that, unlike in Venezuela, the operation in Mexico is not aimed at undermining the country’s government.

By Jeyhun Aghazada