Trump declares that US is engaged in war with drug cartels in memo to Congress

Lawmakers briefed on White House's legal justification for deadly strikes against boats

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President Donald Trump has determined the United States is engaged in “a non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels, according to a document notifying Congress of the legal justification for deadly US strikes on boats off Venezuela.

The text of the document, which was reviewed by Reuters on Oct 2, was briefed to lawmakers by the Pentagon's top attorney this week as experts question the legality of killing suspected drug traffickers at sea instead of apprehending them and their cargo.

The US military has blown up at least three suspected drug boats in the past month and killed at least 17 people, in what critics say is the latest effort by Mr Trump to test the scope of his powers as US president. The document describes those killed as “unlawful combatants”.

The document did not appear to provide any new legal rationale other than what Mr Trump and his allies have said publicly, arguments that some former military lawyers say fail to satisfy requirements under the law of war.