U.S. Conducts 20th Strike on Alleged Drug Traffickers in Caribbean

The United States has conducted its 20th military strike against alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean Sea, with the latest operation occurring on November 10, 2023. According to a Pentagon official, the strike resulted in the deaths of four individuals, bringing the total fatalities from these operations to 79 since the campaign began. NBC News has not independently verified the details of the strikes.

Over the past weeks, the Trump administration has escalated its military actions against boats purportedly linked to narcotics trafficking and the Tren de Aragua gang. In late October, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered an aircraft carrier strike group to deploy to the U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility to support these operations.

The recent military actions have raised concerns among international allies. Reports indicate that the United Kingdom has withheld some intelligence from the U.S. due to legal concerns surrounding the legitimacy of the strikes. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has publicly criticized the U.S. actions, labeling President Donald Trump a “barbarian” and asserting that the U.S. presence in the Caribbean is an “aggression against Latin America.”

Trump has defended the strikes as necessary measures in what he describes as an “armed conflict” with terrorist organizations responsible for drug trafficking into the United States. In a confidential notice to Congress last month, the White House stated, “The President determined these cartels are non-state armed groups, designated them as terrorist organizations, and determined that their actions constitute an armed attack against the United States.” The notice further emphasized that the U.S. is engaged in a non-international armed conflict with these groups.

The military campaign has faced scrutiny from members of Congress. Earlier this month, a Senate measure aimed at requiring congressional approval for ongoing military strikes narrowly failed to pass. Support for the measure came from two Republicans, Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky, along with all Senate Democrats.

In late October, Trump indicated he would not seek a formal declaration of war from Congress to continue these operations. He stated, “I don’t think we’re necessarily going to ask for a declaration of war. I think we’re just gonna kill people that are bringing drugs into our country. We’re going to kill them. They’re going to be, like, dead.”

Additionally, Trump acknowledged authorizing CIA operations in Venezuela, citing concerns over drug trafficking and criminal activities. “I authorized for two reasons, really,” he explained. “No. 1, they have emptied their prisons into the United States of America. And the other thing are drugs. We have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela.”

As the conflict continues, the implications of these strikes and their legality remain a point of contention both domestically and internationally, highlighting the complexities of U.S. foreign policy in the region.