Donald Trump has ordered US army officials to begin using military force against drug cartels. The extraordinary move has threatened a diplomatic row with Claudia Sheinbaum, the Mexican president, insisting US forces will not enter the country.

President Trump secretly signed a directive ordering the Pentagon to begin using military force against Latin American drug cartels that his administration has deemed terrorist organizations. The move was the most aggressive step so far in the president’s campaign against the cartels.

The government designated Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel and others as global terrorist organizations earlier this year