U.S. Confirms Deadly Strike at Sea as White House Weighs Options for Venezuela:

The United States military has confirmed that four people were killed this week in a strike on a small boat traveling in international waters, marking the 20th reported U.S. operation against vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific since early this year. The acknowledgment comes as reports emerge that senior officials in President Donald Trump’s administration have been discussing potential military actions against Venezuela. In a statement posted on X on Friday, U.S. Southern Command said the strike occurred on Monday and had been personally authorized by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. According to the statement, the boat was allegedly “trafficking narcotics,” though the military did not provide evidence to support the claim. Southern Command also released an aerial video showing the vessel moving across the Caribbean before a missile struck, engulfing it in flames. Human rights and international law experts have repeatedly warned that such strikes amount to extrajudicial killings, even when those targeted are suspected traffickers. Despite these concerns, the Trump administration has escalated unilateral military operations at sea. Over the past several months, at least 20 similar attacks have been carried out off the coasts of Central and South America, killing an estimated 80 people. On Saturday, Reuters reported that high-level officials held three separate meetings at the White House this week to evaluate possible military options regarding Venezuela. While no decisions were announced, the discussions signal heightened attention on the crisis in the country and on the future of U.S. engagement in the region. These conversations come as the United States continues to increase its military presence across Latin America. Earlier this week, the Pentagon announced that the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group—the world’s largest aircraft carrier and its accompanying fleet—had arrived in the Caribbean. The group includes more than 4,000 sailors and dozens of tactical aircraft. The U.S. has also deployed F-35 fighter jets, multiple warships, and a nuclear submarine to the region. Altogether, the United States now has roughly 12,000 sailors and Marines positioned throughout the Caribbean and Pacific as part of what Secretary Hegseth on Thursday officially named Operation Southern Spear. Under the U.S. Constitution, Congress holds the exclusive authority to declare war. However, President Trump has indicated he may continue military operations without seeking congressional approval. He recently stated that he would not “necessarily ask for a declaration of war” to keep targeting individuals “bringing drugs into our country.” Despite the administration’s rhetoric, recent polling shows that the American public is far from supportive. A new Reuters/Ipsos survey found that only 29 percent of respondents approve of the extrajudicial killing of suspected traffickers, while just 21 percent support the idea of U.S. military intervention in Venezuela. Leaders across Latin America have also voiced strong opposition. Many argue that the recent U.S. strikes and the growing military buildup violate the 2014 “Zone of Peace” declaration signed by all 33 members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). The United States is not part of the regional bloc. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla condemned the U.S. deployment as “an act of provocation that threatens the self-determination of our peoples,” according to Venezuela-based broadcaster Telesur. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Colombian President Gustavo Petro have also criticized Washington’s actions. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, speaking in a national broadcast last week, accused the Trump administration of “fabricating a new eternal war” in the region. He said the Venezuelan government has prepared a “massive deployment” of national forces should the United States attempt a direct attack, warning that ongoing sanctions and rising tensions have forced the country into a defensive posture.

NEWS