U.S. Military Attacks Venezuelan Vessel Suspected of Drug Trafficking

On September 2^nd, the United States (U.S.) military sank a Venezuelan vessel in the Caribbean Sea, suspected of transporting drugs. The vessel attempted to change course after being detected by U.S. aircraft but was attacked multiple times and ultimately sank. U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he authorized the attack and shared a short video of the ship exploding on his social media. The U.S. government claimed that 11 people on board were members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and posed an immediate threat to the U.S. Additionally, the White House emphasized that over 100,000 Americans die annually due to drug abuse, framing the strike as a necessary measure to defend the nation. However, no concrete evidence has been presented to support these claims, and some senators criticized the administration for failing to prove that the vessel was transporting drugs to the U.S. Questions remain about the number of people on board and the vessel’s intended destination. Later, on September 15^th, the U.S. military launched another attack on a suspected Venezuelan drug-running ship in international waters, resulting in three deaths and escalating tensions between the two countries. In response, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced the deployment of 4.5 million militia members nationwide and condemned the recent U.S. ship attack as a “direct provocation through the illegal use of excessive military means.” The incident has sparked international debate over the legality of U.S. anti-drug operations in the Caribbean and compliance with international law, and it is expected to influence the country’s future strategy in the region.