The US has struck another vessel off the coast of Venezuela on Tuesday, killing six people, President Donald Trump has said.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated the vessel belonged to 'narcoterrorists' engaged in narcotics trafficking. This incident marks the fifth strike by the Trump administration against boats accused of drug trafficking in international waters since September, leading to a total of 27 reported deaths without provided evidence or details about the vessels or those onboard.
Legal experts have criticized the US for potentially breaching international law, with neighboring countries Colombia and Venezuela condemning the strikes. Trump asserted that intelligence confirmed the vessel's involvement in trafficking and that it was associated with illicit narcoterrorist networks operating on known smuggling routes.
Amid ongoing scrutiny, Trump shared aerial footage of a missile strike that caused an explosion on the small boat. However, he did not specify the nationality of those aboard or the specific drug smuggling organization involved. Importantly, he noted that no US military personnel were harmed during the operation.
The strike aligns with a leaked memo to Congress indicating the US views its conflict with drug cartels as a 'non-international armed conflict.' This declaration supports the administration's deployment of warships to the Caribbean, where it positions the strikes as acts of self-defense.
The framing of these actions as part of an active conflict raises questions about the administration's motives, with many believing this strategy is aimed at increasing military pressure on Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro, who has faced significant challenges to his leadership from both the domestic and international communities.
Venezuela's government responded to the strikes with outrage, with President Maduro denying involvement in drug trafficking and questioning the validity of the footage released by Trump. This ongoing conflict not only underscores broader political tensions but also potentially jeopardizes the safety and rights of indigenous communities who inhabit these contested regions.
