Trump’s ‘narco-terrorism’ war in Latin America evokes Reagan – then as now, it’s more about fighting leftists than drug runners

The nebulous nature of narco-terrorism has allowed presidents from Reagan to Trump to deploy the term when it serves broader political goals in Latin America.

By: Michelle D. Paranzino, US Naval War College, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: June 11, 2026

Words: 1,630

Last Updated: 9 hours, 4 minutes ago

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By Michelle D. Paranzino, US Naval War College

More than any other U.S. president in decades, Donald Trump has aggressively pursued military interventions in Latin America.

On Jan. 3, 2026, U.S. special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on charges of narco-terrorism. In the months before the operation, U.S. Southern Command began targeting small, fast-moving boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. The death toll from the continuing war on these alleged narco-terrorists …

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