Rising Tensions Between the US and Venezuela as Deadly Naval Strikes and Blockade Spark Regional Alarm

The United States military has announced that it carried out a lethal attack on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing four people. The strike was confirmed by US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) on Wednesday and came at a moment of heightened political and military tension between Washington and Caracas. The announcement followed the defeat of two resolutions in the US House of Representatives that sought to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to use military force against Venezuela without congressional approval. According to SOUTHCOM, the attack targeted “four male narco-terrorists” traveling aboard a speedboat along what the military described as a known drug-trafficking route. However, the US military did not provide any evidence to support its claim that the vessel was involved in narcotics trafficking. A video released on social media showed the boat being destroyed, but offered no further details about the identities of those on board or the circumstances leading up to the strike. The operation was reportedly ordered by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and is part of an expanding military campaign known as “Southern Spear,” which has increased US military activity across Latin America. Since September, Washington has acknowledged carrying out strikes on at least 26 vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean, resulting in nearly 100 deaths. Legal experts have raised serious concerns, accusing the United States of conducting extrajudicial killings in international waters, potentially violating international law. President Trump has defended the strikes, arguing that they are necessary to curb the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. His administration has repeatedly blamed drug cartels based in Venezuela for trafficking narcotics into North America. Despite these justifications, critics argue that the military actions represent a dangerous escalation that could push the region toward open conflict. On Wednesday, the Republican-controlled House narrowly voted down two resolutions aimed at restricting the president’s military powers. One resolution would have required Trump to withdraw US forces from hostilities involving Venezuela unless Congress explicitly authorized such action. The second resolution sought to limit military operations against any group designated by the president as a terrorist organization in the Western Hemisphere. Both measures failed by slim margins, signaling continued congressional support for the administration’s aggressive posture. These developments come amid an unprecedented US military buildup in Latin America. Thousands of troops have been deployed to the region, alongside Washington’s largest aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine. Trump has openly threatened military action to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power, further escalating tensions. Earlier this week, Trump ordered a naval blockade targeting oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuelan ports. The blockade applies to vessels carrying oil that is already under US sanctions. Venezuela’s government condemned the move as a “grotesque threat,” accusing Washington of attempting to seize the country’s natural wealth. Last week, US forces boarded and seized the Skipper oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast and reportedly transported it to Texas to unload its cargo. According to The New York Times, Venezuela has responded by deploying its navy to escort oil tankers leaving its ports. Several ships reportedly departed the country’s eastern coast under naval protection following Trump’s blockade announcement. Concern over the growing risk of war has spread across the region and beyond. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, along with several Latin American leaders, has voiced alarm at the escalating situation. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged the United Nations to take a more active role in preventing violence, stressing Mexico’s opposition to foreign intervention in Venezuela. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also expressed concern over Trump’s approach to Latin America. Lula revealed that he had urged dialogue during a recent phone call with Trump, emphasizing diplomacy over military force. “The power of words can outweigh the power of guns,” Lula said. Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro reportedly spoke with Guterres by phone, denouncing the US naval blockade and what he described as “colonial threats” against Venezuela. Maduro also criticized US officials for claiming that Venezuela’s natural resources do not belong to the country, calling such remarks an example of “barbaric diplomacy.” As tensions continue to rise, fears are growing that the standoff between Washington and Caracas could spiral into a broader conflict with serious consequences for the entire region.

NEWS