US Military Does Not Have Permission to Carry Out Drone Attacks on Drug Cartels in Mexico, Says Pentagon Official

WASHINGTON – A top Pentagon official stated it clearly on Tuesday that special operations forces are not authorized to conduct drone attacks on drug cartels in Mexico, despite President Donald Trump’s classification of them as foreign terrorist organizations.

Colby Jenkins, currently serving as the assistant defense secretary for special operations, informed a Senate committee that the designation by Trump does not automatically grant the U.S. military the power to engage in direct actions against the cartels.

When questioned by Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat from Michigan, Jenkins mentioned that the designation “helps us unlock the doors” for a more comprehensive government approach to addressing the drug issue.

Slotkin noted that Elon Musk, a top adviser to Trump on overhauling the federal government, has said the foreign terrorist designation means the U.S. can conduct drone strikes against the cartels. Musk posted that on Feb. 19 on X.

Jenkins said it doesn’t, but that now the military can provide options and be ready if Trump needs more done to protect the border.

U.S. Northern Command has increased manned surveillance flights along the U.S.-Mexico border to monitor drug cartels and the movement of fentanyl and is increasing its intelligence sharing with Mexico from those flights, Gen. Gregory Guillot told senators in February.

There are also unmanned U.S. drones conducting surveillance over Mexico’s airspace, according to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Trump designated many of the gangs and cartels moving those drugs into the U.S. as foreign terrorist organizations on Feb. 19, further increasing the pressure on their ability to move and providing law enforcement with what the State Department said are “additional tools to stop these groups.”

Guillot, commander of U.S. Northern Command, also told senators that he would seek expanded authority from Congress to conduct “more advise-and-assist types of operations between our forces and the tier one Mexican forces,” which are that country’s special forces units.