POTUS notifies Congress of U.S. conflict with drug cartels, designates them as unlawful combatants

On October 3, 2025, President of the United States (POTUS) notified Congress that the U.S. is engaged in a "non-international armed conflict" with drug cartels, designating them as "unlawful combatants," according to a report by The New York Times.

In a related update from U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), the U.S. Special Operations mothership MV Ocean Trader has been confirmed in the theater and was spotted off St. Croix. The USS Truxton has been assigned to the U.S. 4th Fleet, with four destroyers currently stationed in the Caribbean. The USS Stockdale has transited the Panama Canal, while the USS Sampson has returned to San Diego.

U.S. military officials are reportedly developing options to target drug traffickers inside Venezuela, with potential strikes anticipated in the coming weeks. However, no strikes have been approved by the president as of yet, according to NBC News. To date, at least three U.S. strikes have targeted and destroyed boats affiliated with Venezuelan cartels, resulting in 17 reported fatalities.

For further context on international military developments, see recent developments regarding missile upgrades in Ukraine.