The government of US President Donald Trump is planning military strikes against drug cartel facilities and leaders in Mexican territory, in what would be an expansion of its anti-drug trafficking operation in the Caribbean and the Pacific, NBC revealed on Monday.
The new deployment would include sending troops and intelligence officers to Mexico, whose training has already begun, although the start of the mission is not yet imminent, says the television station, which cites statements by two current U.S. officials and two former high-ranking officials with knowledge of the initiative.
US prepares military offensive in Mexico, say experts
NEW/Trump administration plans new military mission in Mexico that would include ground troops operating under the authority of the intelligence community (CIA) and drone strikes against labs and cartels. Final decision has not been made. Not imminent. @NBCNews pic.twitter.com/iJQtlQmYLs
– Dolia Estévez (@DoliaEstevez) November 3, 2025
Senior U.S. military commanders and the White House are currently discussing the scope of the mission and have not yet made a final decision, the report said.
According to sources, U.S. forces in Mexico would primarily use drones to dismantle drug labs and target cartel members and kingpins.
Some of this equipment requires “the presence of operators on the ground for effective and safe use,” they added.
The mobilized troops would belong to the Joint Special Operations Command and would operate “under the authority of the U.S. intelligence community, known as Title 50 status,” which refers to covert operations outside the traditional military framework.
The mission is also expected to involve CIA agents and, once approved, would be treated by Washington with the utmost secrecy, similar to what it has maintained in the recent attacks on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, which have left dozens dead in areas close to Venezuela and Colombia.
Unlike a possible expansion of counter-narcotics operations in Venezuelan territory, the mission planned for Mexico would not be aimed at undermining the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum, officials said.
“The Trump Administration is committed to using a whole-of-government approach to address the threats posed by cartels to U.S. citizens,” a senior official told NBC in response to the reports.
Last February, the Trump Administration designated drug cartels as terrorist organizations.
A month later, reports began to emerge of a new anti-drug operation in Mexican territory.
Last September, The Washington Post reported that the White House and Pentagon reportedly held back suggestions by DEA officials, who earlier this year urged the GOP administration to carry out a series of military strikes on drug cartels in Mexican territory.
Although Trump has on several occasions hinted at his willingness to attack Mexican drug cartels on his territory, his administration has so far refrained from doing so.
The Republican leader has praised the cooperation of Sheinbaum’s government in joint operations against drug trafficking on the common border.
Filed under: US prepares military offensive in Mexico
With information from EFE
