WASHINGTON (AP) — In a bold move, President Trump revealed that the U.S. military targeted a vessel suspected of carrying illegal drugs from Venezuela, leading to the deaths of three people on board.
According to Trump’s post on Truth Social, this military operation occurred while these alleged narcoterrorists were in international waters, describing the drugs as “a deadly weapon poisoning Americans” while en route to the United States. He added, “These violent drug trafficking cartels pose a serious threat to U.S. national security, foreign policy, and important U.S. interests.”
The strike reportedly took place on a Monday and follows a previous military operation over two weeks ago that engaged a speedboat linked to drug trafficking, which resulted in 11 fatalities. The Trump administration justified its earlier intervention as a necessary measure to curb the inflow of narcotics into the U.S.
However, the legality of these military actions has come under scrutiny by several senators across party lines, raising concerns about the potential overreach of executive power, particularly given that military forces are used for law enforcement purposes.
Trump officials claim self-defense was warranted for the first attack, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating that the drug cartels pose an immediate threat to the United States.
Officials indicated that the recent military action targeted the Tren de Aragua gang, categorized by the U.S. as a terrorist organization, and hinted that more military strikes aimed at drug traffickers are on the horizon as part of an intensified effort against these organizations.
While it remains unclear whether Tren de Aragua was also the focus of the latest strike, the reaction from the Venezuelan government was swift but not immediately available.
The Trump administration has consistently pointed fingers at Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro regarding the ongoing drug issues affecting U.S. communities.
In response, Maduro condemned U.S. military actions, claiming they use accusations of drug trafficking as a pretext for military meddling intended to intimidate and instigate regime change in Venezuela.
During a press conference, he criticized a recent military operation that involved 18 American Marines boarding a Venezuelan fishing boat in Caribbean waters, sarcastically asking, “What were they looking for? Tuna? A kilo of snapper?” He accused the U.S. of seeking a military confrontation.
On Fox News, Rubio emphasized that the U.S. does not recognize Maduro as the legitimate leader, instead labeling him as the figurehead of a drug cartel.
Following the initial military engagement, America’s top diplomat underscored Trump’s commitment to utilizing both military and diplomatic powers to confront cartels threatening American citizens.
Reports suggest that the boat in question had started to return to shore when struck, prompting Rubio to voice his uncertainty about these claims, stating, “What needs to start happening is some of these boats need to get blown up. We can’t just let them turn back and escape our reach.”
— AP writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report.
