US officials have conducted multiple strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea, reportedly killing several drug traffickers. President Donald Trump announced the first strike in September, claiming it targeted a vessel departing from Venezuela associated with the Tren de Aragua cartel, believed to be transporting drugs to the US.
In subsequent weeks, similar announcements emerged, supported by grainy footage, but lacking substantial evidence regarding the vessels and their occupants. The US government asserts that the strikes are a measure of self-defense against the trafficking of illicit drugs. However, the actions have faced regional condemnation. For example, the Colombian president has stated that one targeted vessel was not Venezuelan but operated by Colombian nationals—a claim the US denied.
Experts in international and maritime law have raised concerns about the legality of the US strikes, noting that the US is not a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. This convention generally prohibits interference with vessels in international waters, with limited exceptions. Some experts suggest that the US actions might have been unlawful under this framework.
Questions are also being asked regarding whether the US strikes against alleged cartel members violate international law, specifically the UN charter, which allows the use of force under strict conditions. Critics argue that labeling individuals as narco-terrorists does not justify military action against them, especially since the US is not in an armed conflict with Venezuela or the Tren de Aragua organization.
Furthermore, there are doubts about the compliance of these strikes with US domestic law, which grants Congress the authority to declare war. While the US administration cites the president’s powers as Commander in Chief, the applicability of this power against non-state actors like drug cartels remains unclear. Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government has condemned the strikes, asserting that the accusations of drug trafficking are unfounded.
The US has reportedly deployed naval ships to the region as part of its anti-narcotics operations, and the CIA has been authorized to conduct covert operations in Venezuela, with a reward announced for information leading to the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdjzw3gplv7o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss