The United States President Donald Trump's administration is considering possible drone strikes against Mexican drug cartels, according to NBC News.
The report cited six current and former U.S. military, law enforcement and intelligence officials with knowledge of the matter.
According to the sources, the move was part of an ambitious effort to combat criminal gangs trafficking narcotics across the southern border.
Although there is no official confirmation from the White House, sources told NBC News that discussions were still at the earlier stage.
The planned drone strikes will be targeted at cartel figures and their logistical networks in Mexico with the cooperation of Mexico’s government, the sources said.
Still, the Trump administration has made no final decision and reached no definitive agreement about countering the cartels. Meanwhile, a unilateral covert action, without Mexico’s consent, has not been ruled out and could be an option of last resort, the sources said.
However, it is unclear whether American officials have floated the possibility of drone strikes to the Mexican government.
From the ongoing, if discussion between US and Mexico scale through over joint drone strikes, it would not be the first time they have launched a joint effort to take on the cartels, nor would it be the first time that American military and intelligence worked in concert with Mexico’s law enforcement and army.
But what the Trump administration is contemplating could be unprecedented both in the number of U.S. personnel involved and in the use of American unmanned aircraft to bomb cartel personnel and assets.
Recall that Trump announced 25 percent tariffs on Mexican and Canadian exports to the US as measures to mitigate against the flow of undocumented migrants and drugs.
