Fred Fleitz, former chief of staff to the National Security Council, warned in an interview with Newsmax on Monday that President Donald Trump may respond forcefully to escalating cartel violence, including military action against drug cartels operating in Mexico.
Over the past month, the Trump administration has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking with naval strikes on suspected smuggling boats, new terrorist designations for major cartels, and sanctions on cartel-linked networks.
Speaking on "American Agenda," Fleitz described the situation as "extremely dangerous," citing threats to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and the cartels' financial desperation as Trump tightens border security.
"Drug trafficking is big business," Fleitz said. "Trump has sealed the borders. He's cracking down on criminal drug gangs. These cartels are losing a lot of money, and they are escalating.
"If the cartels are going to do this, I think Trump will escalate too. If this is a terrorist organization targeting American citizens, there will be a robust attack against these cartels in Mexico."
Fleitz added that U.S. intelligence and security agencies are likely preparing for an expanded countercartel effort, potentially including joint operations with Mexican authorities.
Joining Fleitz, Republican strategist and former naval intelligence officer John Jordan said the conflict marks "a paradigm shift," blurring the lines between law enforcement and national security.
"For generations, the drug trade was seen as a policing issue," Jordan said. "Now, with cartels connected to terrorist networks like Hezbollah and with their influence in countries like Venezuela and Mexico, this is statecraft. You can't just rely on law enforcement tools anymore."
Both experts agreed that the Trump administration is adapting to what Jordan called a "brave new world" of threats that combine terrorism, organized crime, and foreign policy challenges.
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Theodore Bunker ✉
Theodore Bunker, a Newsmax writer, has more than a decade covering news, media, and politics.
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