In a dramatic escalation of regional tensions, former President Donald Trump revealed that the United States military carried out a “kinetic strike” in international waters of the southern Caribbean, targeting a speedboat allegedly used by Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang to traffic drugs into the U.S., in an operation that reportedly left 11 dead.
Trump released video footage of the strike, showing the vessel exploding at sea, and presented it as a clear warning to drug traffickers: “Let this serve as notice to anyone thinking of bringing drugs into the United States,” he declared. Secretary of State Marco Rubio backed the move, calling it an important blow against a designated narco-terrorist group.
The government of Venezuela, under President Nicolás Maduro, strongly condemned the attack. Maduro labeled it a violation of sovereignty and questioned the authenticity of the video, while Communications Minister Freddy Ñáñez suggested it could have even been AI-generated. The incident comes after the deployment of several U.S. Aegis destroyers and amphibious ships to the Caribbean, raising alarms in Caracas.
Why did Washington opt for such a direct strike now?
It appears the U.S. is seeking to reinforce its zero-tolerance policy on drug trafficking, boosting deterrence and hitting cartels at sea before narcotics reach its shores.
