The U.S. military has executed a strategic operation against a suspected drug-trafficking boat in the Caribbean Sea. An American official highlighted that unlike past events, some individuals have survived, signaling a remarkable turn in their operations. As tensions rise between the U.S. and Venezuela, the U.S. President, Donald Trump, has labeled Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro as an 'illegitimate president.' White House Press Secretary, Caroline Levitt, explained that Trump views Maduro as running an illegal regime, not truly representing the Venezuelan people.
According to a Reuters news agency report, an American official, speaking on condition of anonymity, shared limited insights on the U.S. operation, prompting questions about whether the military aided the survivors or if they are now in U.S. custody. The Pentagon, however, remains silent. Previously, the U.S. Department of Defense had identified those targeted as 'narco-terrorists.'
Up to 27 Lost Lives amid Legal Debates
Previously, U.S. attacks on suspected drug boats off the Venezuela coast resulted in the deaths of at least 27 individuals. This spurred legal experts and Democratic lawmakers to question the legality of these actions under the laws of war.
The Trump administration argues its ongoing involvement is part of a larger conflict against Venezuela's narco-terror groups, thereby justifying these military interventions. Released videos from the Trump administration of earlier operations show boats being destroyed entirely, with no reported survivors.
U.S. Military Build-up in the Caribbean
Amid these conflicts, the U.S. military has bolstered its presence in the Caribbean, employing guided missile destroyers, F-35 fighter jets, a nuclear submarine, and approximately 6,500 troops. Analysts believe President Trump is intensifying confrontations with the Venezuelan government. Trump stated on Wednesday that he authorized the CIA to undertake covert actions inside Venezuela, further raising speculations in Caracas about U.S. efforts to oust President Maduro.
Venezuela Appeals to the United Nations
Venezuela's United Nations Ambassador, Samuel Moncada, has filed a letter with the United Nations Security Council, seeking to have the U.S. coastal offensives declared illegal and urging support for Venezuela's sovereignty.
New Task Force to Oversee Operations as Southern Command Withdrawn
Last week, the Pentagon announced that now, a new task force, rather than the Miami-based 'Southern Command,' will lead U.S. counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean. This task force will be operated by the II Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, known for its rapid global military campaigns. This shift is seen as startling in U.S. military circles, considering that typically such high-profile missions are under Southern Command's purview.
