US weighs unprecedented drone strikes on Mexican cartels, officials confirm

The Trump administration is exploring the possibility of deploying drone strikes on drug cartels in Mexico as part of a broader initiative aimed at dismantling criminal networks trafficking narcotics across the U.S.-Mexico border, according to six current and former U.S. military, law enforcement, and intelligence officials familiar with the discussions.

Sources revealed that talks among officials from the White House, Department of Defense, and intelligence agencies are still in the preliminary stages, Caliber.Az reports.

The proposal under consideration would involve using drone strikes against cartel figures and their logistical networks in Mexico, potentially with cooperation from the Mexican government. However, no final decisions have been made, and there is no concrete agreement on how to proceed with countering the cartels.

The possibility of unilateral covert action, without Mexico's consent, remains a potential option as a last resort, according to the sources. It is not clear whether U.S. officials have broached the subject of drone strikes with Mexican authorities.

If both nations were to move forward with coordinated drone strikes or other measures, it would not be the first joint effort to combat the cartels. The U.S. has previously worked alongside Mexican law enforcement and military forces in their shared fight against organized crime.

However, what the Trump administration is considering could be unprecedented in scope, involving a significant number of U.S. personnel and the use of American unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to target cartel operatives and assets. This approach would represent a major escalation in U.S. efforts to combat the cartels.

Administration officials and nominees have consistently refrained from ruling out the use of drone strikes in public statements, keeping the possibility on the table as part of the broader strategy.

To prepare for a potential offensive, the U.S. military and CIA have significantly increased surveillance flights over Mexico to gather intelligence, the sources indicated. These flights are being conducted with the approval of Mexico’s government, as confirmed by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

“They’re looking to build a target deck,” said one former official, referring to the intelligence-gathering flights. The intelligence gathered could form the basis for a potential target list, which may include cartel operatives, vehicles, warehouses, and other key elements of the cartels' networks, the sources explained.

By Tamilla Hasanova