Trump Says US Strike Targeting Venezuelan Gang Will Force Drug Cartels to Think Twice
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday defended a deadly military strike that his administration said was carried out a day earlier against an alleged Venezuelan gang operating in the Caribbean. The president called the move a necessary step to send a clear message to Latin American cartels trying to smuggle drugs into the US.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki at the White House, Trump rejected suggestions that US forces should have stopped the ship and captured those on board. “A huge amount of drugs were coming into our country to kill a lot of people, and everybody understands that very well,” Trump declared. “Obviously, they won’t do it again. And I think a lot of other people won’t do it again either. When they see that tape, they’ll say, ‘Let’s not do that.'”
The attack, which reportedly killed 11 people, represents a dramatic shift from the traditional blockade operations the US typically employs in Latin America. The incident also coincides with a major naval buildup ordered by Trump in waters near Venezuela, further highlighting the administration’s newly aggressive stance in its long-running war on drugs.
Rubio and Hegseth Defend Operation
Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the attack should not be seen as a one-time event, but as the beginning of a new phase in US anti-drug policy. “Operations like this will happen again,” Rubio said during a visit to Mexico. He argued that traditional interceptions have failed to stop the flow of drugs into the country. “They can only be stopped if you blow them up, if you get rid of them,” he added.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed this view in a television program, calling Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro the head of a “drug narco-state.” Hegseth insisted that US officials “knew exactly who was on that boat and what they were doing.” He also claimed that the decision reflected Trump’s aggressive approach that previous administrations had avoided.
However, the administration has not yet produced concrete evidence linking the targeted ship to a Venezuelan gang called Tren de Aragua. Intelligence officials and analysts have said the group’s role in international drug trafficking is limited. Still, the attack underscores the White House’s determination to designate the gang as a foreign terrorist organization and hold it responsible for rising violence in Latin America.
Venezuela Questions US Narrative
In Caracas, Venezuelan officials reacted cautiously but with skepticism. Communications Minister Freddy Náñez questioned the authenticity of video footage released by Washington that allegedly showed the attack. He described the clip as an “almost cartoon-like animation” rather than an actual military recording, even suggesting it may have been created using artificial intelligence.
Hegseth denied claims that the attack was monitored live from Washington and insisted it was “definitely not artificial intelligence.” Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government continued to downplay the role of Tren de Aragua domestically, and described the US action as part of a broader campaign to undermine Maduro’s sovereignty.
This limited response reflects the delicate position in Caracas. Although officials refrain from openly escalating tensions, they also cast doubt on Washington’s justification for the attack, calling it another chapter in the controversial history of US intervention in Latin America.
Tren de Aragua’s Expanding Reach
Tren de Aragua, born in Venezuelan prisons, has become one of the region’s most notorious criminal groups, operating networks in Colombia, Peru, Chile and elsewhere. Its activities include extortion, human trafficking and local drug distribution, although researchers say it has yet to establish itself as a major international cocaine trafficker.
A report based on two years of research by InSight Crime concluded there was no direct evidence of Tren de Aragua’s large-scale involvement in the international drug trade. Jeremy McDermott, the organization’s co-founder, said: “We have not found any direct involvement of TDA in the international drug trade, although there are cases when they work as sub-contractors for other drug trafficking organizations.”
Nevertheless, US authorities continue to offer Tren de Aragua as a pseudonym for Venezuelan crime abroad. Analysts warn that this approach risks overstating the group’s reach, while creating a “broad description” for Venezuelan gangs operating across Latin America. Deportation records and public statements suggest the group’s name is being used as a shorthand for a wide range of criminal activities linked to Venezuela.
Questions of Legality and International Law
The legality of Tuesday’s attack is already being debated among legal scholars and human rights advocates. Mary Ellen O’Connell, a professor of international law at the University of Notre Dame, said the action may have violated international norms. “Intentional killing outside of an armed conflict is unlawful unless the purpose is to immediately save a life. There were no hostilities taking place in the Caribbean,” she said.
By labeling Tren de Aragua a terrorist organization, the administration has effectively given itself a legal justification for preemptive military action, but critics argue it violates international law and sets a worrying precedent.
A Wider Shift in US Strategy
Beyond Venezuela, Tuesday’s attack represents a major shift in US intent to tackle security challenges in Latin America. Ryan Berg of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said Washington had now demonstrated the “capacity to use lethal force in the Western Hemisphere” and warned Mexico that similar action could be taken on its soil if cooperation is not increased.
The move is a sharp departure from the US’ recent approach, which has emphasized foreign aid and partnerships with local governments rather than unilateral strikes. It also evokes memories of the Cold War era, when US military interventions in countries such as Guatemala and Chile destabilized governments and left lasting scars.
Regional and Global Implications
Mexico’s Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente stressed the importance of respecting sovereignty in regional actions during his meeting with Rubio. His comments highlighted broader concerns among Latin American governments that US action could undermine local authority and revive Washington’s image as an overbearing power.
For the Trump administration, however, the attack is a calculated gambit. Domestically, it reinforces Trump’s image as tough on crime and determined to stop the flow of drugs into the United States. Internationally, it sends a clear message to both adversaries and allies that Washington is prepared to step up its fight against organized crime regardless of the political consequences.
Whether this new strategy will deter traffickers or instead fuel further violence and instability is uncertain. It is clear that the US has redrawn the boundaries of its activities in this hemisphere, indicating that cartels and gangs may now face not just law enforcement but also direct military action.
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