President Donald Trump has secretly signed a directive authorizing the Pentagon to use military force against certain Latin American drug cartels that his administration has designated as terrorist organizations. This directive marks an escalation in the U.S. government's campaign against narcotics trafficking groups, with military plans being prepared for operations targeting these cartels on foreign soil, including in Mexico and other parts of Latin America. The administration's decision follows the earlier designation of several cartels as global terrorist organizations. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has firmly rejected any U.S. military intervention on Mexican territory, asserting that there will be no invasion and emphasizing respect for Mexico's sovereignty. The directive aims to combat the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States, which has seen over 260,000 fentanyl-related deaths under the previous administration. Trump has also announced immediate enforcement operations targeting known gangs, drug dealers, and criminal networks within the U.S. The move has drawn attention and concern in Latin America, with leaders like Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro also reportedly alarmed by the order. The Pentagon is currently preparing military options to implement the directive, signaling a more aggressive approach to combating drug trafficking organizations labeled as terrorist groups by Washington.