U.S. President Donald J. Trump has secretly signed a directive authorizing the Pentagon to prepare military options for targeting Latin American drug cartels that were designated as foreign terrorist organizations earlier this year. This directive marks an escalation in the U.S. government's approach to combating narcotics trafficking by potentially using military force beyond traditional law enforcement methods. The order includes authorization to conduct military actions against cartels in Mexico and other Latin American countries, including operations on foreign soil. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has publicly rejected the possibility of U.S. troops entering Mexico, emphasizing the country's sovereignty and ruling out any military invasion. The directive has raised concerns and debate regarding its legality, strategic effectiveness, and potential diplomatic repercussions in the region. The cartels targeted include groups such as the Cartel de los Soles. U.S. officials, including former border czar Tom Homan, have defended the move by highlighting the threat posed by these organizations, which they claim have caused more American deaths than all terrorist groups combined. Critics argue the plan may be illegal, dangerous, and unlikely to succeed, continuing a pattern of failed U.S. drug war policies in Latin America.