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SOURCE BBC- 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 said the vessel belonged to “narcoterrorists” and that it was “trafficking narcotics”.
This is the fifth strike of its kind by the Trump administration on a boat accused of trafficking drugs on international waters since September. In total, 27 people have been reported killed, but the US has not provided evidence or details about identities of the vessels or those on board them.
Some lawyers have accused the US of breaching international law, and neighbouring nations like Colombia and Venezuela have condemned the strikes.
In his Truth Social post, Trump said “intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking narcotics, was associated with illicit narcoterrorist networks, and was transiting along a known” route for smuggling.
He also posted an aerial surveillance video showing a small boat on water that is struck by a missile and explodes.
Trump did not specify the nationality of those on board, or what drug smuggling organisation they are suspected of belonging to. He added that no US military personnel were injured.
The strike comes after a recent leaked memo sent to Congress, and reported on by US media, that said the administration determined the US was in a “non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels.
It has also deployed multiple warships to the Caribbean.
The US has positioned its strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels as self-defence. Many lawyers questioning the legality of such military action.
Framing this as an active armed conflict is likely a way for Trump to justify using more extreme wartime powers – for example killing “enemy fighters” even if they have not posed a violent threat, or detaining people indefinitely.
While it is true that some drug trafficking occurs in Venezuela, and some cartels operate in the region that some of these vessels allegedly have originated from, it is not considered a hotspot for drug trafficking compared to some other locations in the region.
As a result, many believe this is part of a wider political campaign to put military pressure on Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro.
The strikes come after the US announced a $50m (£37m) reward for any information leading to the arrest of Maduro – whose election to lead the country has been widely rejected by the international community – on drug-trafficking charges.
Venezuela’s government has reacted to previous recent strikes with anger.
Maduro denies American accusations that he is involved with drugs trafficking, while another official has questioned the veracity of footage posted by Trump.
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Why isn’t the rest of the world leaders condemning this? They can’t cause no one dares to tell the powerful US you’re wrong.
Are you telling me instead of totally destroying and killing possible innocent individuals, the US with it’s surveillance technology on sea, land and in air, can’t track these vessels entirely to their disembarking destination? and if it’s the US as they claimed, why not have a task force already setup waiting on shore, looking to see the exchange and therefore capture everyone involve with the further possibility of breaking up said drug run, as a matter of fact how about waiting at least till these vessels get in your waters, and then blow them up.
So this is all about stopping drugs from entering the US, but if what we’re seeing and hearing is correct, this will never stop. Look at the picture! all these vessels totally destroyed killing everyone yet they keep coming and will continue to find away, because this I guess is the drug trade sea highway to the US.
@Carvaa. If you understand Maritime Buffer Zones you would understand why the Cartels use them and why the US choose to intercept in those zones.
You are trying to have moral argument about criminals who would go to any length to get what they want.
The US is saying if it works for them, then it also works for us. The maritime “laws” is why the drug Cartels do that way, and at the same time why the US choose those waters intercept.
Have you noticed that none of these boats were destroyed in any one country’s sea border? They are done in international waters.
I think you are using too much emotion in your argument. It’s war dude. I believe Antigua should follow this same approach with the actual convicted criminals who are creating all the fear in Antigua right now. But then again that’s just me.
Carvaa you missing the point. There were no go fast boat trafficking drugs. They tracking boats coming from Venezuela and when they reach in international waters tge US killing them to trigger off a war . There is no drugs. They want Venezuela to react for them to strike Venezuela .Right now they want to construct a military Base in Grenada so that in case of a war they will have military men close by . The next move is to return the military base in Antigua and Barbuda. Talks are already ongoing. Same thing in Grenada . Why the world leaders not condemning what the US is doing in the caribbean. The US is trying to bring the Israel type war in the caribbean. Venezuela is not a threat to the US. Their mission is to capture Maduro
@Little Johnny,
Great vision! I think it’s all about taking down Maduro and put his friend Maria the Nobel peace winner in office.
They’re pushing Grenada and because their Navy Base was once stationed here, they figured we will happily welcome the idea, so they are here to push us down that same road like Grenada.
Let’s see how gullible, weak and greedy our government is.