U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the U.S. military conducted a second strike on a Venezuelan drug cartel vessel bound for the United States. This strike resulted in the deaths of three individuals, with no U.S. personnel harmed, and was carried out in international waters. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, identified the target as a violent drug trafficking cartel posing a threat to U.S. national security and interests. A video shared in the post showed the vessel exploding and catching fire.
There is limited information from the White House on the specifics of the operations or the legal basis for the strikes. Trump claimed that the boat was carrying drugs, citing evidence obtained by U.S. authorities, including bags of cocaine and fentanyl found in the ocean.
This recent strike follows a significant military buildup in the southern Caribbean, where U.S. assets, including F-35 aircraft and warships, have been deployed. Trump hinted at potential land operations against suspected drug smugglers in the region.
In a prior incident on September 2, a similar strike was conducted off Venezuela targeting a group identified as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. The legality and justification of these actions have raised concerns among lawmakers, with some calling for congressional authorization before further military engagements.
Critics, including human rights groups, have questioned the legality of the strikes, with some labeling them as extrajudicial executions. The Trump administration’s decision to add Colombia to a list of nations not cooperating in the drug war has added to the controversy, with Colombian President Gustavo Petro criticizing the U.S.’s approach to combating drug trafficking.
The situation in the region remains tense, with ongoing debates over the use of military force and the implications for international law and human rights.
