In a bold move on Tuesday, the U.S. military struck a vessel 🚢 off the coast of Venezuela, killing six men on board. President Donald Trump announced this on Truth Social, calling the ship a "narcotrafficking" target navigating international waters.
This latest operation ramps up the death toll to 27 since September, as U.S. forces step up efforts to intercept suspected drug-running boats near Venezuelan shores. According to Trump, U.S. intelligence tracked the vessel along a known smuggling route, linking it to illegal narcoterrorist networks.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration notified Congress that the United States is in a "non-international armed conflict" with drug cartels it has designated as terrorist organizations. Under this framework, cartel members may be treated as "unlawful combatants" — a move that raises questions about legal standards and transparency📜.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, however, argues the U.S. is using the cartel threat as a pretext to expand its military footprint in Latin America and push for regime change in Caracas 🌎💭.
Like something straight out of a Narcos episode, this high-stakes clash at sea spotlights the intricate battle between counter-narcotics operations and national sovereignty. What’s your take on these maritime strikes? 🤔
Reference(s):
Trump says U.S. strike on vessel near Venezuelan coast kills six
cgtn.com
