Donald Trump has ordered the US Army officials to begin using military force against drug cartels.

It marks a significant escalation in the president’s aggressive campaign against the Latin American cartels, which he has designated as foreign terrorist organisations.

Pentagon officials have started looking at plans to target the groups, sources told the New York Times.

The move opens up the possibility of military operations at sea and on foreign soil against the criminal groups.

The order also raises legal concerns, such as whether killing criminal suspects outside an armed conflict zone would constitute murder.

Mr Trump has been fixated on the idea of launching direct attacks on drug cartels since his first term, when he reportedly suggested firing missiles into Mexico to target the gangs.

In April, he asked Claudia Sheinbaum, the Mexican president, to allow US troops into the country to help fight the cartels.

Mr Sheinbaum rejected the proposal, telling Mr Trump the countries could “collaborate” but “with you in your territory and us in ours”.