Washington D.C. – Over 60 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have sent a letter to the U.S. Congress urging them to curtail the Trump governance’s recently initiated military campaign against drug cartels in the Caribbean. The letter,delivered amidst a government shutdown and congressional debate over funding,expresses concern over the legality of the operations and calls for congressional authorization before further military action is taken.
The administration launched what it terms a “non-international” war against drug cartels, designating their members as “illegal combatants.” Following initial attacks in early September, a group of Democratic senators requested explanations from the White House regarding the legal basis for these actions, reminding the president that congressional approval is required to authorize such military engagements.
The Trump administration designated the Train of Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal association, as a “designated terrorist organization” in february, alleging its involvement in maritime drug trafficking. The White House also accuses the Nicolás Maduro government of leading a criminal organization dedicated to drug trafficking, and in August, doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture to $50 million (approximately 43 million euros).
Though,the NGOs argue that both the Train of Aragua and venezuela play a “minor role” in drug trafficking to the united States. According to a document sent to Congress, “less than 10% of cocaine shipments bound for the United States travel through Venezuela,” based on the government’s own calculations.
Senator Adam Schiff (California) and Senator Tim Kaine (Virginia) are planning to force a vote on war powers legislation this Wednesday. If successful, the measure would prevent U.S. armed forces from launching military operations against non-state organizations without formal congressional authorization.The move comes as the House of Representatives is in recess and the Senate struggles to resolve the government funding impasse.
