Should the U.S. Militarize the War on Drugs?
November 21, 2025
53 min
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433 of 464
November 21, 2025
Should the U.S. Militarize the War on Drugs?
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53:15This episodeShould the U.S. Militarize the War on Drugs?
Summary
he Trump administration is taking the War on Drugs in a bold direction, using aircraft carriers, intelligence networks, and direct military strikes to target alleged smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Supporters of militarization argue that previous strategies to stop cartels have failed, and only aggressive deterrence will stop the crisis. Others warn that militarization usually fails to stop drug flows, risking civilian casualties, and rarely achieves lasting results. Now we debate: Should the U.S. Militarize the War on Drugs?
Arguing Yes:
Sean McFate, Author and Professor of Strategy at the National Defense University and Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service
Andrés Martínez-Fernández, Senior Policy Analyst for Latin America at The Heritage Foundation's Allison Center for National Security
Arguing No:
Will Freeman, Fellow for Latin America Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations
Aileen Teague, Assistant Professor of International Affairs at Texas A&M University's Bush School of Government and Public Service
Emmy award-winning journalist John Donvan moderates
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