U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the United States military has conducted another strike on a Venezuelan drug cartel vessel en route to the United States, marking the second such incident in recent times. The operation resulted in the deaths of three individuals without any injuries to U.S. personnel, taking place in international waters.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, stated that the targeted vessel belonged to “extremely violent drug trafficking cartels and narcoterrorists,” emphasizing the threat these cartels pose to U.S. national security and foreign interests. The post featured a brief video showing the vessel exploding and catching fire.
Details regarding the execution of the operations and the legal justifications behind them remain limited from the White House. Trump claimed that evidence of drug trafficking was obtained by U.S. authorities, citing recovered cargo such as cocaine and fentanyl as proof. The President also mentioned recorded evidence supporting their actions.
The recent strike occurred amidst a significant U.S. military presence in the southern Caribbean, with the deployment of five F-35 aircraft to Puerto Rico and the positioning of seven warships and a nuclear-powered submarine in the region. Trump hinted at potential land operations against suspected drug smugglers during discussions with the press.
Earlier in September, Trump had disclosed a similar strike off Venezuela, targeting what was alleged to be a drug-carrying vessel associated with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The administration defended the action as self-defense due to the perceived threat posed by drug cartels. However, there have been objections from lawmakers, both Democrat and Republican, questioning the legality and justification for these military strikes.
Concerns have been raised by human rights groups and legal experts, suggesting that the strikes may violate international laws and could be perceived as extrajudicial executions. In a separate development, the Trump administration added Colombia to a list of countries deemed uncooperative in the drug war, marking the first such designation in nearly three decades. Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro criticized the decision, highlighting the country’s efforts to combat drug trafficking while questioning U.S. policies in the region.