The U.S. military has confirmed that four people were killed when American forces struck a boat traveling in international waters marking the 20th time in recent months that the U.S. has attacked vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific. The strike happened on Monday, and according to U.S. Southern Command, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth personally approved it. Officials claimed the boat was carrying drugs, though they have not shared proof to back that up.
Southern Command also posted a short video online showing the boat speeding through the Caribbean before being hit from above, bursting into flames and sinking. But human rights groups and international law experts have long argued that these types of mid-sea attacks amount to illegal killings, even if the people onboard are accused of smuggling.
The strike is part of a growing pattern. Under President Donald Trump, the U.S. has carried out at least 20 similar operations, leaving around 80 people dead.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that top Trump officials met three times this week at the White House to talk about possible military action against Venezuela. This comes as the U.S. has been rapidly expanding its military footprint across Latin America. Warships, F-35 fighter jets, and even a nuclear submarine have been deployed in the region. Earlier this week, the massive Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group with thousands of sailors and dozens of aircraft also arrived in the Caribbean.
Altogether, roughly 12,000 U.S. sailors and Marines are now operating in the area under a new mission called “Operation Southern Spear.”
Despite the buildup, Trump has suggested he may not seek congressional approval to continue targeting suspected drug traffickers, even though only Congress has the power to declare war. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows most Americans aren’t on board either only 29% support these killings, and just 21% support military intervention in Venezuela.
Across Latin America, leaders are openly criticizing the U.S. actions. Many point out that the region was declared a “Zone of Peace” in 2014 by the CELAC bloc, which includes 33 countries. They say Washington is violating that agreement. Cuba’s foreign minister called the deployments a “provocation,” while the leaders of Brazil and Colombia have also spoken out.
Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, warned in a recent speech that the U.S. is trying to drag the region into a never-ending conflict. He said Venezuela has prepared a large defensive mobilization in case Washington decides to attack, especially as the country continues to struggle under U.S. sanctions.
