President Donald J. Trump has declared a “non-international armed conflict” with Caribbean drug cartels, designating their members as “unlawful combatants” in a White House memo obtained by the Associated Press. The directive, dated September 30, 2025, authorizes lethal military action against narco-terrorist networks, citing their fentanyl trafficking and paramilitary operations as direct attacks on U.S. sovereignty. Invoking Article II powers, Trump has bypassed Congress to greenlight drone strikes and naval interdictions, with recent operations off Puerto Rico killing 22 cartel operatives and seizing 500 kilograms of fentanyl precursors. The president framed the escalation as the first step in securing the “Golden Circle,” a strategic zone encircling the Gulf of Mexico—referred to as the “Gulf of America”—to restore American dominance in the Western Hemisphere.

A senior U.S. official, speaking anonymously due to the classified nature of the plans, revealed that Pentagon briefings to Congress on October 1 extended beyond the cartel fight. Lawmakers were informed of preparations for invasions of Canada and Greenland, slated for mid-2026 under codenames “Operation Northern Shield” and “Operation Arctic Eagle.” These operations aim to secure Arctic resources and counter Chinese influence, with Canada’s freshwater reserves and Greenland’s rare-earth minerals deemed vital for national security. The administration’s “hemispheric defense” strategy envisions a fortified North America under U.S. control, with Trump tweeting, “Canada and Greenland belong in America’s family—time to make it official!” Congressional allies are drafting enabling legislation, though critics like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warn of “imperial overreach.”

International backlash has been fierce, with Mexico and Denmark condemning the moves as violations of sovereignty, while Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowed to defend national independence. At home, the policy splits Congress: House Speaker Mike Johnson backs the “bold vision,” but legal scholars warn the “unlawful combatants” label risks eroding international law, potentially exposing U.S. forces to reciprocal designations. As U.S. carriers reposition in the Gulf and B-52s stage from southern bases, Trump’s “Golden Circle” gambit—blending cartel crackdowns with territorial ambition—threatens to reshape the Americas, galvanizing his base while risking global escalation ahead of the 2026 midterms.