The U.S. military conducted its 20th operation targeting a boat suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea, resulting in the deaths of four individuals. This action, part of the Trump administration’s intensified efforts in South American waters, was confirmed by U.S. Southern Command in a recent social media post. Since commencing in September, these strikes have claimed a total of 80 lives, with the Mexican Navy halting search operations after a strike in late October.
The footage shared by Southern Command displayed a vessel engulfed in flames after being identified as involved in illegal narcotics smuggling along a known trafficking route. This marks a shift from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s usual practice of announcing such operations on social media, although he promptly shared Southern Command’s statement.
In a strategic move, the Trump administration is bolstering the U.S. military presence in the region by deploying the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, set to arrive shortly after a journey from the Mediterranean Sea. Hegseth recently named the ongoing mission “Operation Southern Spear,” underscoring the mission’s expanding scope and permanence, which will involve nearly a dozen U.S. navy ships and approximately 12,000 sailors and marines.
While the administration asserts that the reinforcement of warships aims to curb drug flows into the U.S., no evidence has been presented to support claims that the individuals targeted in these operations were “narcoterrorists.” These strikes have predominantly occurred in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean, key routes for cocaine trafficking from major producers.
Speculation has arisen regarding the aircraft carrier’s potential role in pressuring Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who faces accusations of narcoterrorism. Amid differing expert opinions on potential land bombings to influence Maduro, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared non-recognition of Maduro’s leadership following allegations of electoral malpractice, branding his government as complicit in drug trafficking towards the U.S.
Maduro has dismissed U.S. allegations, accusing the government of fabricating a conflict against him. Venezuela has initiated a significant mobilization in response to perceived U.S. threats. President Trump justifies these operations by citing an “armed conflict” with drug cartels and alleging the involvement of foreign terror groups operating boats to flood American cities with narcotics.
Lawmakers, including Republicans, have sought clarity on the targets and legal justifications for these strikes. Rubio and Hegseth recently briefed a bipartisan group overseeing national security, shedding light on the legal rationale and strategy behind the operations. Despite Senate Republican opposition to legislation limiting Trump’s authority to engage in attacks against Venezuela without congressional consent, questions persist regarding the trajectory of these actions.
