U.S. Strike On Venezuelan Drug Boat Marks Major Escalation
U.S. forces struck an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in the southern Caribbean, killing 11 people linked to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang.
The strike, in international waters, is the first known operation since the administration surged seven Navy warships and a nuclear-powered submarine into the Caribbean — part of its stepped-up campaign against drug cartels.
WAR ON DRUGS
Typically, U.S. forces intercept drug shipments by boarding vessels and making arrests. This time, they blew up a boat.
The U.S. has designated Tren de Aragua, a Venezuela-based gang, as a foreign terrorist organization alongside groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and Al-Qaeda. The Trump administration argues this gives it legal authority to use military force.
The administration has also labeled Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro a cartel leader and is offering $50 million for his capture.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the operation shows that “President Trump is willing to go on offense in ways that others have not been” when dealing with drug smugglers, dubbed “narco terrorists” who he vowed to strike if trafficking continues.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed that message, promising the administration would use “full power of America and the full might of the United States to take on and eradicate these drug cartels.”
CRISIS AT HOME
The strike comes against the backdrop of a worsening drug crisis in the U.S. In 2023, more than 105,000 Americans died from overdoses, the vast majority from fentanyl and meth. For Trump, the escalation in the Caribbean is as much about deterrence abroad as it is about demonstrating toughness on the U.S. drug epidemic.
While pushing to bring down the drug cartels abroad, the White House is getting criticism for drug policy here at home. The Trump administration canceled $11 billion in COVID-era grants for addiction, mental health, and public health programs earlier this year, which have been credited with helping bring down drug overdoses in recent years.
Want more on the topic? We’ll be covering this story in-depth on our new weekly podcast, Ask Mo Anything (#AMA). This Premium-exclusive show (join here) features Mosheh Oinounou answering your top questions about the week’s biggest headlines — moderated by producer Sari Soffer Sukenik.