The United States will deploy more than 4,000 additional troops in the waters around Latin America as part of an extended military operation. CNN describes these actions as a "dramatic show of force" to supply president Donald Trump with "a wide scope of military capabilities if he decides to attack cartels".
The area will include the Desert Group on the USS Iwo Jima ship and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. The forces will besides be joined by a nuclear-powered submarine assigned to South U.S. Command, an additional reconnaissance aircraft P-8 Poseidon, respective destroyers and a rocket cruiser.
Purpose of the cartel mission
Additional measures are aimed "to address threats to US national safety by drug-terrorism organisations in the region" - quotes CNN's source. The expansion of the armed forces is now primarily of demonstration importance by sending a informing signal and does not indicate the intention to immediately hit cartels.
However, the deployment of Marine Units raises concerns for any Pentagon representatives. They point out that they are not trained to combat drug smuggling and trafficking.
Former military activities
In March, the Pentagon deployed destroyers in the U.S.-Mexican border area to support North Command safety missions and strengthen US presence in the Western Hemisphere. Secretary of defence Pete Hegseth signed a message early in the year in which the U.S. defence was considered the "most crucial priority" of the army.
The Pentagon was then instructed "to seal borders, to defy all forms of invasion, including illegal mass migration, drug trafficking, smuggling, human trafficking, and to deport illegal in cooperation with the Ministry of interior Security". The goal of "reliable military options" is besides to give Americans unlimited access to the Panama Canal.
Sources used: "PAP" Note: This article has been edited with the aid of Artificial Intelligence.
