US President Donald Trump said the United States will begin military action on land against drug cartels, in what could represent a major escalation in Washington’s long-running counter-narcotics campaign. Trump made the remarks in an interview on Fox News, saying, “We are going to start now hitting land with regard to the cartels,” and repeating his claim that cartel groups are “running Mexico.”
Read More: US strikes Venezuela, captures President Maduro, wife
The announcement follows months of U.S. maritime strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean seas, which the administration says have targeted vessels tied to narcotics trafficking. More than 100 individuals have reportedly been killed in these sea strikes since last September, but Trump’s comments now suggest the United States is preparing to expand operations beyond international waters.
🚨 BREAKING: President Trump announces U.S. military LAND STRIKES against CARTELS, specifically mentions Mexico
“We are gonna start hitting LAND with regard to the cartels. The cartels are running Mexico!”
BOOM. This is what I voted for.🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/0lWFpLKlCQ
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 9, 2026
A move toward land operations — potentially involving strikes on cartel infrastructure inside Mexico or neighboring countries — would mark a significant shift in U.S. military policy, raising questions about sovereignty, legal authority and diplomatic repercussions. Mexico’s government has strongly resisted suggestions that U.S. troops operate on its territory and underscored the importance of respecting national sovereignty.
Experts warn that such actions could prompt strong political backlash at home and abroad, with analysts noting that unilateral military operations inside another nation could be seen as aggression. Legal scholars and foreign policy specialists have highlighted concerns that Congress has not authorized military force against cartels, and that any land campaign could deepen tensions with Mexico while complicating U.S. relations across the hemisphere.
Read More: Explosions and smoke shake Caracas early Saturday
For now, Trump has not given detailed plans or timelines for the proposed land strikes, leaving the world watching closely as U.S. policy toward drug cartels enters a potentially new and controversial phase.