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Trump insists he can strike alleged drug traffickers without Congress declaring war
- On Thursday, President Donald Trump insisted he can continue ordering strikes on suspected traffickers abroad without Congress declaring war, saying his administration will brief lawmakers but does not need formal approval.
- This month, the Trump administration declared an `armed conflict` with cartels and created a Homeland Security Task Force active in all 50 states with 3,000 arrests.
- The U.S. military has carried out at least nine strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean since September, killing about 39 people, and the Defense Department released imagery from October 21, 2025.
- Senators have pushed back, noting Sen. Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska, sought to block strikes without authorization, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will brief Congress.
- Amid international criticism, Colombian President Gustavo Petro called U.S. strikes `extrajudicial executions` violating international law, while Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro warned of 5,000 Igla-S anti-aircraft missiles as US naval and air deployments in the Caribbean increase.
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Trump says anti-drug operations by military could extend to land targets without congressional approval
'I’m not going to necessarily ask for a declaration of war,' says US president, adding that Congress would be notified before any ground operations - Anadolu Ajansı
·Ankara, Türkiye
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The US keeps sinking alleged drug boats in Latin America. Parliament's approval is unnecessary: "I think we're just going to kill people."
·Germany
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Trump says declaration of war not needed for strikes on alleged cartel boats
President Trump on Thursday dismissed the need to ask Congress for a declaration of war as the U.S. military continuously launches strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. “I don’t think we’re going to necessarily ask for a declaration of war,” Trump told reporters. “I think we’re just going to kill people…
·Washington, United States
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Total News Sources39
Leaning Left5Leaning Right8Center17Last UpdatedBias Distribution56% Center
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources are Center
56% Center
L 17%
C 56%
R 27%
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