Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has expressed his support for sending US Special Forces into Mexico to confront drug cartels operating in the country. DeSantis made this statement during the first Republican presidential debate. He emphasized his plan in a tweet following the debate, stating, “Yes, I would send U.S. Special Forces to take out the Mexican drug cartels.”
DeSantis’s spokesperson, Bryan Griffin, further explained that DeSantis would declare a national emergency and mobilize all military resources to address the issue. He also stated that DeSantis would declare the cartels to be narco-terrorists and change the rules of engagement on the border. Griffin added that the full force of the federal government would be utilized to stop illegal drug flow.
While DeSantis is not the only Republican to call for military action against drug cartels, experts have raised concerns about the potential diplomatic crisis that such actions could trigger. Designating the cartels as a foreign terrorist organization would allow for lethal action, but it would also have major implications for trade and violate Mexico’s sovereignty.
Vanda Felbab-Brown, director of the Brookings Institution’s Initiative on Nonstate Armed Actors, highlighted that even if someone with a good relationship with the US were in charge of Mexico, they would be forced to take drastic action and close the borders due to this violation of sovereignty. Earl Anthony Wayne, former US ambassador to Mexico, echoed this sentiment, stating that military action in Mexico has been an extremely sensitive issue for years.
Regarding the authority to deploy US forces in this manner, Wayne explained that it would fall under the same rubric as launching a military operation in any other country. However, presidents typically have to contend with Congress afterward and provide a justification for their actions. A president would almost certainly need to notify Congress after taking such action.
Ezra Cohen, a fellow with the Hudson Institute and former acting assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, mentioned that Congress could pass a law prohibiting funding for such operations but would find it challenging to prevent this type of activity.
Experts agree that the situation with drug cartels in Mexico is dire but believe that the best path forward is to find a way to work with the Mexican government. They acknowledged that cooperation with the Mexican government has become increasingly difficult but cautioned against taking military action, as it would narrow options for future cooperation and strain bilateral relationships. They emphasized the need for a serious solution to address the cartels’ power and influence.