Trump calls action a warning to drug traffickers
President Donald Trump confirmed Tuesday that US military forces had destroyed a vessel allegedly connected to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua cartel, killing 11 people. The operation occurred in international waters in the southern Caribbean, officials said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the boat as part of a drug-smuggling route originating in Venezuela, calling the strike a “lethal operation” aimed at disrupting cartel activity in the region.
President defends mission
On Truth Social, Trump posted: “Under my orders, US forces carried out a strike against identified Tren de Aragua narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area. This organization, operating under Nicolás Maduro, is responsible for killings, trafficking, and widespread violence across the Americas.”
He added: “Let this serve as a warning to anyone thinking about bringing drugs into the United States—don’t try it.”
Earlier this year, the State Department designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization and a global terrorist entity.
Rubio signals ongoing operations
Before departing for Mexico and Ecuador, Rubio told reporters that the counter-cartel campaign would continue. “We will confront those groups that are flooding American streets with drugs and taking lives,” he said. Asked about the legal basis for such military action, Rubio declined to provide specifics, noting only that the groups had been formally classified as terrorist organizations.
Trump later told reporters that US forces had “just destroyed a drug-carrying vessel” and suggested additional strikes would follow.
Increased US presence in region
A senior defense official confirmed the strike as a “precision mission” but did not provide further details. Reports indicate that more than 4,000 Marines and sailors have been deployed throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, enhancing US capabilities for direct action against cartel networks.
Security analyst Tom Karako of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said such operations are rarely made public. “It’s possible that multiple similar strikes have occurred without acknowledgment,” he noted.
Maduro condemns strike
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro denounced the operation, calling it “criminal and violent.” He said his government was prepared for “maximum readiness” in response to Washington’s campaign of military pressure.
The Trump administration previously offered a $50 million bounty on Maduro, accusing him of directing drug trafficking operations.
The strike represents a significant escalation in US policy, treating cartels as terrorist organizations and authorizing military action against their operations in Latin America.
