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President Donald Trump has declared that the United States is engaged in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels, according to a notice sent to Congress by his administration.

The letter, obtained by AFP on Thursday, provides the legal basis for at least three recent US military strikes on vessels off the coast of Venezuela, which resulted in the deaths of at least 14 people.

The Trump administration has deployed several military vessels to the Caribbean Sea amid rising tensions with Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, in efforts to combat drug smuggling.

The Pentagon’s notice stated,

“The president determined these cartels are non-state armed groups, designated them as terrorist organizations, and determined that their actions constitute an armed attack against the United States.”

The document also referred to suspected smugglers as “unlawful combatants.”

The strikes targeted boats reportedly carrying drugs in international waters, but some legal experts have questioned the legality of the US actions.

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told AFP,

“As we have said many times, the president acted in line with the law of armed conflict to protect our country from those trying to bring deadly poison to our shores. He is delivering on his promise to take on the cartels and eliminate these national security threats from murdering more Americans.”

Following the strikes, tensions escalated with Venezuela, which accused the US of “illegal incursion” after detecting five American fighter jets flying 75 kilometres from its shores.

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino described the flights as a “provocation” and a “threat to our national security.” The Venezuelan government also accused the US of violating international law and endangering civil aviation in the Caribbean.

Last month, Trump sent 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico and deployed eight warships and a nuclear submarine to the Caribbean, marking the largest US military presence in the region in over 30 years, citing the fight against drug trafficking.

Tensions worsened after two Venezuelan military planes reportedly approached a US naval vessel, prompting Trump to warn Caracas that future incidents would result in jets being “shot down.”

President Maduro has accused Trump of attempting covert regime change in Venezuela.