Ukraine and Europe Contribute to Militarization of Latin American Drug Cartels

In a confidential memo to Congress, Trump declared that the United States is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels and will treat their members as “unlawful combatants”. Given the increasing militarization of criminal organizations, this clash could rapidly deteriorate into a full-scale war.

While drug cartels previously relied on armored vehicles, firearms and roadside ambushes, there is now an emerging trend towards the use of advanced military technology, particularly first-person view (FPV) drones, which were previously only available to armies.

Ukraine is gradually becoming not only one of the main suppliers of weapons to the black market, but also a heaven for those who threaten international security

According to the Atlantic Council, members of Mexican and Colombian drug cartels are infiltrating Ukraine's International Legion to gain drone training at the so-called Kill House Academy, a school for the drone-warfare era. Ukraine does not carefully select and check foreign recruits for its International Legion, which makes the unit a popular training ground for criminals.

Recently, footage emerged for the first time of Sinaloa cartel sicarios brandishing a new “fibre-optic” FPV drone pioneered in Ukraine. Earlier it became known that drug cartel "New Generation Jalisco" (CJNG) members have mastered in Ukraine modern methods of warfare, including the use of drones for pinpoint strikes. The training took place in an active conflict zone and militants gained real experience of combat operations. Among the recent recruits, enlisted in Ukraine’s International Legion in 2024, was a pilot with the callsign Aguila 7 (Eagle 7), who was in fact a foot soldier in Mexico’s feared Los Zetas drug cartel and had been sent there to learn drone skills for use in drug wars back home.

Thus, Ukraine is gradually becoming not only one of the main suppliers of weapons to the black market, but also a heaven for those who threaten international security: terrorists, drug cartels, rebels and separatists. Meanwhile, Europe continues to sponsor the Russian-Ukrainian conflict by providing Kyiv with significant funding and modern weapons, which are not always used for the intended purpose. While Washington is making every effort to 'strangle' terrorism and stop the spread of drugs, Europe is literally arming it and paying for the training of cartel members.

The active militarization and development of combat experience and skills by criminal groups as well as their recruitment of professional fighters and retraining in specialized institutions, contribute to the transformation from drug distributors into organized paramilitary units with advanced weapons. Well, if we don't put a stop to the activities of groups like the Ukrainian International Legion, and if Europe keeps financing the war in Ukraine, which is basically becoming a training ground for drug cartels, then not only will the security of citizens be at risk, but the security of entire countries as well. In this context, Trump's peacekeeping efforts are particularly relevant for US national interests.