Cartels can only be defeated with military power, White House's Miller says

He claims there is no criminal justice solution to the problem

US Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller watches a violin performance by Rusanda Panfili (not pictured) during a Governors Dinner at the White House in Washington, DC, US, Feb 21, 2026. REUTERS/Aaron Schwartz

Cartels operating in the Western Hemisphere can only be defeated with military power, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said on Thursday.

"We have learnt after decades of effort is that there is not a criminal justice solution to the cartel problem," Miller told Latin American defence leaders gathered at the US Southern Command headquarters for a conference.