Council on Foreign Relations 197d ago

In a collaboration between CFR and Open to Debate, panelists debate the legal, moral, operational, and diplomatic trade-offs of the Trump administration's recently authorized military strikes against suspected drug trafficking vessels and its designation of certain cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Supporters argue this is a necessary deterrent and part of a broader strategy to treat narcotrafficking as a national security threat. Critics claim it violates domestic and international law, undermines sovereignty, risks civilian harm, and may provoke dangerous escalation. Under what circumstances, if any, is military force justified in combating drug trafficking networks? Open to Debate is the nation’s only nonpartisan, debate-driven media organization dedicated to bringing multiple viewpoints together for a constructive, balanced, respectful exchange of ideas. Open to Debate is a platform for intellectually curious and open-minded people to engage with others holding opposing views on complex issues. Speakers Will Freeman Fellow for Latin America Studies, Council on Foreign Relations (arguing no) Aileen Teague Assistant Professor of International Affairs, Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University; Author, Policing on Drugs: The United States, Mexico, and the Origins of the Modern Drug War, 1969-2000 (arguing no) Sean McFate Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council; Professor of Strategy, National Defense University (arguing yes) Andres Martinez-Fernandez Senior Policy Analyst for Latin America, The Heritage Foundation (arguing yes) Presider John Donvan Moderator-in-Chief, Open to Debate Subscribe to our channel: https://goo.gl/WCYsH7 This work represents the views and opinions solely of the author. The Council on Foreign Relations is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher, and takes no institutional positions on matters of policy. Visit the CFR website: http://www.cfr.org Follow CFR on X: http://www.twitter.com/cfr_org Follow CFR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/councilonforeignrelations/