Trump classifies fentanyl as weapon of mass destruction

• US President Donald Trump signed an executive order classifying fentanyl as a “weapon of mass destruction”, expanding federal authority to combat synthetic drugs.
• The move reframes fentanyl as a national security threat, allowing military and intelligence support against drug trafficking networks.

United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order classifying the synthetic opioid fentanyl as a “weapon of mass destruction”, an unprecedented and far-reaching designation that significantly expands the US government’s authority to combat drug trafficking.

The order marks a sharp escalation in the federal response to fentanyl, which US authorities say is responsible for tens of thousands of overdose deaths each year. By adopting a classification traditionally reserved for chemical, biological, and nuclear threats, the administration is signaling that fentanyl will be treated not only as a public health crisis but as a national security threat.

From public health to national security

The executive order states that illicit fentanyl is “closer to a chemical weapon than a narcotic”, underscoring the administration’s argument that its potency and lethality place it in a separate category from other drugs.

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Speaking at a White House ceremony honoring US troops assigned to assist with monitoring the southern border with Mexico, Trump said, “We are officially classifying fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction”.

Administration officials say the designation reflects the scale of harm caused by fentanyl and the organized networks involved in its production and distribution.

Expanded powers for Pentagon and intelligence agencies

The new classification allows the Pentagon to provide direct assistance to law enforcement agencies combating drug trafficking. It also authorizes US intelligence agencies to use tools typically reserved for countering weapons proliferation against drug smugglers and trafficking networks.

Officials say the move is aimed at dismantling what Trump has described as cartels determined to “flood the United States with drugs”.

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Earlier this year, the administration designated major drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, a step that opened the door to potential military action against them.

Military strikes and rising toll

Since early September, the Trump administration has carried out more than 20 strikes on vessels suspected of transporting drugs in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, according to US officials.

Those operations have resulted in the deaths of more than 80 people, escalating concerns among rights groups about the growing militarization of US drug policy.

Supply chains under scrutiny

US authorities say Mexico remains the primary source of fentanyl entering the United States. Several of the chemical precursors used to manufacture the drug are sourced from China, according to US officials.

The administration argues that the new designation strengthens Washington’s ability to disrupt these international supply chains and apply pressure on governments accused of failing to curb fentanyl production and trafficking.

Critics warn that treating drug trafficking as a military and intelligence matter risks further violence without addressing the underlying causes of addiction. The White House, however, insists the move is necessary to confront what it calls one of the deadliest threats facing the United States today.