Commitment to Countering Cartel Criminal Activity
This Presidential Proclamation, issued by Donald J. Trump on March 7, 2026, formally declares the administration's sustained commitment to dismantling cartels and foreign terrorist organizations operating in the Western Hemisphere, referencing the establishment of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition.
The proclamation directs that these criminal entities must be demolished to the fullest extent possible consistent with law, mandates coordination with allies to strip them of financing and resources, commits the U.S. to training and mobilizing partner nation militaries, and calls for keeping external threats, including malign foreign influences, outside the region.
Arguments For
Reinforcing international security and stability in the Western Hemisphere through coordinated military and law enforcement action against transnational criminal and terrorist groups.
Asserting the use of necessary legal authorities and resources to directly combat criminal organizations that undermine sovereign governance and engage in terrorism and violence.
Establishing a unified, multi-national front, evidenced by the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, to effectively dismantle cartel operations and remove their territorial and financial control.
Protecting domestic and hemispheric security by proactively preventing these organizations from exporting violence and spreading malign external influence.
Arguments Against
Potential for escalation of violence or conflict arising from the commitment to use "hard power" and any necessary resources against non-state actors.
Concerns regarding the scope of "applicable law" and assertions of authority to conduct large-scale military or paramilitary operations across sovereign borders.
Questions about the resource allocation and potential strain on U.S. military and financial assets dedicated to external counter-cartel operations.
Risk of unintended consequences, such as destabilizing local political structures or driving criminal activities into new, less monitored regions.
Presidential Actions
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
The United States, under my leadership, has demonstrated a sustained commitment towards achieving the dismantlement of cartels and foreign terrorists operating in the Western Hemisphere. My Administration has designated a number of cartels and transnational gangs as foreign terrorist organizations and has since dedicated unprecedented resources towards their destruction. These international entities control territories and commerce, extort political and judicial systems, wield arms and field military capabilities, and use assassinations and terrorism to achieve their ends. In furtherance of our efforts, the Secretary of War established the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, a pledge from military leaders and representatives from 17 countries demonstrating that the region is ready to operationalize hard power to defeat these threats to our security and civilization. We will address these grave dangers by use of any necessary resources and legally available authorities, together with our partner nations.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim as follows:
(1) Criminal cartels and foreign terrorist organizations in the Western Hemisphere should be demolished to the fullest extent possible consistent with applicable law.
(2) The United States and its allies should coordinate to deprive these organizations of any control of territory and access to financing or resources necessary to conduct their campaigns of violence.
(3) The United States will train and mobilize partner nation militaries to achieve the most effective fighting force necessary to dismantle cartels and their ability to export violence and pursue influence through organized intimidation.
(4) The United States and its allies should keep external threats at bay, including malign foreign influences from outside the Western Hemisphere.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.
DONALD J. TRUMP
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The introductory section of the document frames it as a Presidential Proclamation, issued by the President of the United States.
It outlines the administration's established commitment to dismantling criminal cartels and foreign terrorists in the Western Hemisphere, noting that some groups have already been designated as foreign terrorist organizations.
The text describes these entities as powerful forces that control territory, commerce, and political systems through intimidation, assassination, and terrorism.
It highlights the creation of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition involving 17 partner nations, signaling readiness to use military force to counter these threats in collaboration with allies.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim as follows:
(1) Criminal cartels and foreign terrorist organizations in the Western Hemisphere should be demolished to the fullest extent possible consistent with applicable law.
(2) The United States and its allies should coordinate to deprive these organizations of any control of territory and access to financing or resources necessary to conduct their campaigns of violence.
(3) The United States will train and mobilize partner nation militaries to achieve the most effective fighting force necessary to dismantle cartels and their ability to export violence and pursue influence through organized intimidation.
(4) The United States and its allies should keep external threats at bay, including malign foreign influences from outside the Western Hemisphere.
This section formally enacts the proclamation, citing the President’s constitutional and legal authority.
It establishes four primary directives.
First, it demands that criminal cartels and foreign terrorist organizations in the Western Hemisphere be destroyed as much as legally permissible.
Second, it mandates coordination with allies to cut off these groups' territorial control and financial resources needed for violent activities.
Third, the United States commits to training and mobilizing allied militaries to create a force capable of dismantling cartels and stopping their outward projection of violence and influence.
Finally, it instructs the U.S. and allies to guard against external threats, specifically mentioning malign influences originating outside the Western Hemisphere.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.
DONALD J. TRUMP
This concluding section verifies the document as an official Presidential Proclamation by stating the signing date: March 7, 2026.
It also references the national founding by noting it is the 250th year of American Independence.
The document concludes with the official signature of Donald J. Trump.