Trump’s ‘narco-terrorism’ war in Latin America evokes Reagan – then as now, it’s more about fighting leftists than drug runners
By Michelle D. Paranzino, Director, Latin America Studies Group; Associate Professor of Strategy & Policy, US Naval War CollegeJune 11, 2026
The nebulous nature of narco-terrorism has allowed presidents from Reagan to Trump to deploy the term when it serves broader political goals in Latin America.