Executive Summary
- The U.S. military confirmed killing four people in a strike on a vessel in the Caribbean, describing it as the 20th such attack in recent months.
- The strike occurs amidst a significant U.S. military buildup in the region, dubbed “Operation Southern Spear,” involving an aircraft carrier and 12,000 personnel.
- Senior Trump administration officials have reportedly met to discuss potential military options against Venezuela, according to news reports.
- Several Latin American leaders have condemned the U.S. actions, citing a regional agreement designating the area as a “Zone of Peace.”
The United States military has confirmed it killed four individuals in a strike on a vessel in the Caribbean, marking the 20th such attack in recent months. The confirmation comes as senior officials in the Trump administration have reportedly held meetings to discuss potential military operations in Venezuela, escalating tensions in the region.
In a statement Friday, the U.S. Southern Command announced the Monday strike was authorized by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, alleging the boat was “trafficking narcotics” but did not provide evidence. The operation is part of a broader military buildup formally named “Operation Southern Spear,” which involves an estimated 12,000 U.S. sailors and Marines, the Gerald R Ford Carrier Strike Group, F-35 aircraft, and a nuclear submarine deployed to the region.
The Trump administration has ordered at least 20 similar military strikes against suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, resulting in approximately 80 deaths. International law and human rights experts have characterized such actions as extrajudicial executions. President Donald Trump has previously stated he would not “necessarily ask for a declaration of war” to continue these operations.
According to Reuters, senior administration officials met at the White House three times this week to discuss military options concerning Venezuela. However, public support for these actions appears low. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated that only 29 percent of Americans support the extrajudicial killings of suspected traffickers, and just 21 percent support military intervention in Venezuela.
Regional Condemnation
Leaders across Latin America have condemned the U.S. military buildup, arguing it violates a 2014 agreement signed by 33 regional nations designating the area as a “Zone of Peace.” Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla called the deployment “an act of provocation,” a sentiment echoed by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Colombian President Gustavo Petro. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused the Trump administration of “fabricating a new eternal war” and announced a “massive deployment” of his own country’s forces in response.
The recent strike and high-level meetings underscore a significant escalation of U.S. military posture in Latin America, straining diplomatic relations and raising concerns of a wider conflict. It is important to note that individuals targeted in these strikes are accused of criminal activity, and such extrajudicial actions operate outside formal legal proceedings where guilt would be determined.