US President Donald Trump announced Sunday that US forces struck another vessel off Venezuela’s coast on Saturday, targeting a ship allegedly carrying illegal drugs. 🚢💥 “In recent weeks, the Navy has supported our mission to blow the cartel terrorists the hell out of the water … we did another one last night. Now we just can’t find any,” Trump quipped during a speech at Naval Station Norfolk, alongside the USS Harry S. Truman.
It wasn’t immediately clear if this was the same strike Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth mentioned on Friday. That earlier operation reportedly killed four people on board.
Trump warned traffickers would shift to land routes next, saying they’ll be “forced to go by land” as sea lanes dry up.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro fired back in a Telegram video, slamming the US actions as “aggression” and vowing, “Our people have never and will never be afraid to defend their right to live and be free.” 🌎✊
Venezuela’s foreign minister, Yvan Gil, also said Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov offered “full support and solidarity” in a phone call—showing Caracas has some backup on the world stage.
This operation is part of a broader US push in the southern Caribbean, where US forces have carried out at least four strikes targeting drug smuggling routes. According to US accounts, about 17 people were killed in September strikes, and warships plus more than 6,500 troops have been deployed to the region.
Still, a 2020 US Drug Enforcement Administration report notes Venezuela isn’t a primary source for US-bound cocaine, pointing to larger flows elsewhere in South America.
Adding to the tension, a Latin American bloc of 10 ALBA members condemned the “illegal incursion of US combat aircraft” near Venezuelan waters. They called the moves a “serious provocation” that risks peace and stability across the region. 🇱🇦🛑
As the Caribbean becomes a hotspot for anti-drug operations, all eyes are on how traffickers adapt—and how other nations respond to the US’s bold strategy. 🌐⚖️
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Trump says U.S. hit another boat off Venezuela coast on Saturday
cgtn.com
