On January 8, 2026, President Donald Trump said on Fox News the U.S. is preparing to “start now hitting land” against cartels, raising the prospect of the first U.S. ground operations on Mexican soil since 1916. The remarks follow Operation Southern Spear’s maritime strikes and the Delta Force capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas under Operation Absolute Resolve. The White House cites Foreign Terrorist Organization designations for six Mexican cartels, with potential targets spanning Sinaloa, Jalisco, and border fentanyl hubs. Mexico’s President Sheinbaum rejects U.S. intervention, deploys National Guard, pursues a ban on foreign operations, and accelerates extraditions. Congress advanced a War Powers Resolution to limit unilateral action, while analysts note legal risk, civilian harm concerns, and trade exposure near $780 billion.
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