Trump’s reckless escalation in the Americas and the Caribbean – San Bernardino Sun

For decades, the United States has worked with our neighbors in the Caribbean and South America to fight drug trafficking, dismantle criminal networks, and strengthen democratic institutions. That partnership is rooted in trust, respect and the rule of law.

But what we’re witnessing today is not partnership, it’s betrayal.

President Donald Trump’s recent unilateral actions in the Caribbean and South America are not just reckless; they’re dangerous. He has deployed U.S. military assets without congressional authorization, bypassing the very checks and balances that define our democracy. Congress has not granted him war powers, and no president — Republican or Democrat — has the authority to singlehandedly drag our hemisphere into conflict.

I’ve spent years working on these issues as a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP), which oversees funding for the State Department and USAID. I’ve seen firsthand how smart, targeted investments in diplomacy and development can strengthen law enforcement partnerships and keep Americans safe without putting troops in harm’s way, undermining our allies or attacking our Constitution.

In fact, I was just in Paraguay and Guatemala meeting with leaders and law enforcement officials who are doing the hard, coordinated work of fighting transnational crime. To help them in those efforts, the United States has provided high-speed interceptor boats, training, and intelligence-sharing to help them stop drug shipments before they reach our shores. In most cases, it’s their authorities who board suspect vessels, conduct investigations and prosecute traffickers. That’s what real cooperation looks like.

We’ve spent years teaching our partners that lasting security comes from working within the law. That’s why it’s so alarming to see the Trump administration toss that rulebook aside. Instead of strengthening alliances, his actions are alienating them. Instead of building trust, he’s breaking it.

These military maneuvers do very little to stop drug shipments to the United States. The same administration that slashed USAID funding for anti-narcotics, anti-crime and anti-corruption programs now thinks launching missiles can be an adequate replacement for law enforcement. The same president who released MS-13 leaders from federal custody now claims to be tough on crime. The hypocrisy is staggering.

Cutting development assistance while sabre-rattling in the region is not an effective strategy to protect our nation at home. Every dollar we pull from USAID’s anti-drug and anti-crime programs makes our hemisphere less stable and our borders less secure. And every reckless action taken without congressional approval sets a dangerous precedent that erodes our democracy.