President Donald J. Trump announced a potential escalation in the United States’ campaign against drug cartels, saying the U.S. will begin conducting land strikes against cartel targets amid ongoing military and law enforcement actions. In a Fox News interview on January 9, 2026, Trump claimed that U.S. forces have knocked out “97 percent” of drugs entering the country by sea and that the next phase of operations will focus on land-based routes blamed for driving the nation’s opioid and fentanyl crisis. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

“We’re going to start now hitting land with regard to the cartels,” Trump told host Sean Hannity, asserting that cartels are “running Mexico” and tying the escalation to the impact of drug-related deaths on American families. While official data indicates that synthetic opioids such as fentanyl contribute to around 70,000 U.S. overdose deaths annually, Trump invoked figures as high as 250,000-300,000 to emphasize the scale of the crisis. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

The announcement marks a possible shift from previous U.S. operations that emphasized naval and aerial strikes against suspected narcotics smuggling vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean — efforts that have continued under the Trump administration amid a broader anti-cartel campaign. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has repeatedly rejected the idea of U.S. military intervention on Mexican soil, reaffirming her country’s sovereignty and insisting that cooperation must respect Mexico’s constitutional authority. Sheinbaum has said collaboration is welcome but unequivocally opposes unilateral foreign strikes. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Critics argue that any military action on land within Mexico without consent could violate international law and escalate tensions with a key neighbor and trading partner. Mexico’s government maintains that bilateral anti-drug cooperation already exists and that joint law enforcement, rather than unilateral intervention, is the appropriate path. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Supporters of Trump’s stance see the potential expansion as a forceful response to an urgent national security challenge that has contributed to widespread addiction and violence in the U.S. They argue that cartels operate with impunity across borders and that decisive action is necessary to disrupt their networks. Observers note that Trump’s comments reinforce his administration’s hard-line approach to transnational criminal organizations and align with a broader “America First” emphasis on protecting domestic security interests.