New U.S. Military Action in Caribbean Waters Raises Global Concerns
Fourth Unapproved Military Operation in Caribbean
Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, announced a new attack against a vessel with four crew members in Caribbean waters off the Venezuelan coast. This marks the fourth such operation since the U.S. began these military actions in early September without prior congressional approval. Unlike past incidents announced by Donald Trump, this operation was reported by Hegseth, who stated that the orders came from the President.
Targeting Designated Terror Organizations
According to Hegseth, the targeted vessel belonged to a designated terrorist organization, a list that includes the Tren de Aragua, a criminal group based in Venezuela. The Secretary of Defense indicated that the boat was operating within the U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility and was transporting significant quantities of narcotics headed to the United States. The announcement, lacking substantial evidence, included only a video of the attack’s impact.
Impact of Ongoing Military Operations
Details regarding these operations remain sparse. The Pentagon claims that the attack resulted in the deaths of four “narcoterrorists.” The military alleges the vessel carried dangerous amounts of narcotics intended for the U.S. market, contributing to the nation’s drug crisis. Hegseth emphasized the continued nature of these military actions.
President Trump’s Response
Shortly after Hegseth’s post, Donald Trump shared the same video on his social network, Truth, asserting the boat could have caused widespread harm due to the quantity of drugs on board. However, no additional evidence was provided to substantiate these claims.
Growing International Tensions
The revelation of the memo comes amid heightened tension between Washington and Caracas. Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López accused the U.S. of provocation following the sighting of five U.S. combat aircraft near Venezuela’s central coast. The U.S. government uses these operations to pressure the Venezuelan administration, accused of leading a narcoticstrafficking organization.
Legal and Political Ramifications
This sequence of extrajudicial attacks, reportedly sinking multiple vessels in international Caribbean waters and resulting in numerous casualties, has sparked legal controversy. A group of Democratic senators recently demanded the White House clarify the legality of these actions, emphasizing that U.S. laws require presidential military actions to receive prior congressional authorization.
White House Defends Actions
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt defended the President’s approach, stating that he is acting on campaign promises to combat the drug epidemic. The administration’s characterization of the operations as an armed conflict against drug cartels seeks to justify the exertion of extraordinary war powers, despite concerns from human rights organizations that these actions may be illegal.