U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged to escalate efforts against Latin American drug cartels, accusing them of flooding the United States with deadly narcotics like fentanyl. However, Mexico has firmly ruled out allowing any U.S. military action on its territory.

According to U.S. media reports on Friday, Trump has directed the Pentagon to draft military plans targeting drug cartels designated as foreign terrorist organizations. This follows the February classification of Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, and six other Latin American groups as terrorist entities by U.S. authorities.

The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal reported that potential strategies under consideration include special forces operations and enhanced intelligence sharing, coordinated with allied nations. The plans aim to disrupt cartel operations but could face diplomatic hurdles, given Mexico’s opposition to foreign military involvement.

The Mexican government has repeatedly stated that it will not permit U.S. armed forces to operate within its borders, asserting that sovereignty remains a non-negotiable priority.