In a bold move on Tuesday, the U.S. military sank its eighth suspected drug-trafficking vessel in international waters – marking the first such strike in the Pacific and resulting in two fatalities. 🌊🚢
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on X that, at the direction of President Trump, the "Department of War conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel being operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization and conducting narco-trafficking in the Eastern Pacific."
Hegseth accused the boat of carrying narcotics along a known transit route and likened the cartels' tactics to those of Al Qaeda. "Just as Al Qaeda waged war on our homeland, these cartels are waging war on our border and our people. There will be no refuge or forgiveness – only justice," he wrote, calling the victims "narco-terrorists" without naming a specific group.
According to The New York Times, the strike occurred near Colombia's Pacific coast. Since September, the Pentagon has launched seven similar operations in the southern Caribbean, mainly targeting vessels accused of moving drugs from Venezuela to the United States. The overall death toll from recent U.S. actions at sea has now reached at least 34.
This latest operation has ramped up diplomatic tensions with Colombia. Earlier this month, President Gustavo Petro accused the Trump administration of "murder" for killing drug suspects at sea. In turn, President Trump cut U.S. aid to Colombia and threatened new tariffs, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown over anti-narcotics policy in Latin America. 🔥🤝
As the U.S. expands maritime strikes against suspected smugglers, questions arise about the impact on regional ties and the ongoing battle against drug routes. Stay tuned for updates. 📡
Reference(s):
U.S. military kills two in strike on alleged drug vessel in Pacific
cgtn.com
