US President Donald Trump has signed a secret directive instructing the Pentagon to develop military options against drug-trafficking organizations that Washington now classifies as foreign terrorist groups, according to a New York Times report confirmed by administration officials. The order would allow US forces to carry out unilateral operations at sea and on foreign soil against cartels blamed for smuggling fentanyl and other narcotics into the United States. Speaking hours after the report was published, Trump told reporters at the White House that the United States “has to protect our country,” adding that he would reveal further details “soon.” The directive builds on earlier moves in which the administration labelled six major Mexican cartels as terrorist entities in February and added Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles in July. The State Department also doubled to USD 50 million the reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom Washington accuses of overseeing narcotics trafficking. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the tougher stance, saying the cartels possess military-grade weaponry and control territory and therefore ‘cannot be treated like street gangs.’ By framing the groups as terrorists, the administration argues it can lawfully deploy intelligence assets and, if ordered, use lethal force against their leadership and infrastructure. The prospect of US military action has rattled governments across Latin America. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said cooperation with Washington must respect Mexican sovereignty and ruled out any role for US combat troops on Mexican soil. Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro warned that “national sovereignty exists” and cautioned against strikes that could take place without local consent. Legal scholars note that the order may face challenges over congressional authorization and rules of engagement, especially if civilian casualties occur during operations outside declared battlefields. The Pentagon declined to comment on planning efforts. While Trump signaled additional announcements are forthcoming, regional officials and security analysts worry that even the threat of unilateral US action could strain existing cooperation agreements and inflame anti-American sentiment.