Heads up 🚨 On Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump told his cabinet he’s about to kick off land strikes against drug traffickers in the Caribbean “very soon.”
“We’re going to start doing those strikes on land. You know, the land is much easier. It’s much easier, and we know the routes they take,” Trump said at the White House. In his Thanksgiving remarks to troops at Mar-a-Lago, he added, “We’ve stopped about 85 percent by sea … and we’ll be starting to stop them by land.”
Since Sept. 2, the Pentagon has already hit at least 21 suspect drug vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, resulting in over 80 reported deaths onboard. Shifting focus to shore could change the game.
Washington has stationed around a dozen warships—including the USS Gerald R. Ford—and about 15,000 troops around the Caribbean Sea. It’s the largest U.S. military build-up in the region in 30 years.
But not everyone’s on board 🤔 Some lawmakers and experts are questioning if counternarcotics is the only goal and whether these strikes are legal under international law.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro insists he’s not involved in drug trafficking and accused the U.S. of “fabricating” a war for regime change.
As land operations loom, communities from the Caribbean coast to Central America will be watching closely. This next chapter in the fight against narcotics is just getting started. 🌴🛡️
Reference(s):
Trump says U.S. to start land strikes on drug traffickers in Caribbean
cgtn.com
