Trump Claims US Struck Another Drug Boat Off Venezuela Coast, Hints at Land Operations Next
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!On Sunday, US President Donald Trump announced that American forces had struck another vessel allegedly carrying illegal drugs off the Venezuelan coast on Saturday evening. Speaking at Naval Station Norfolk, Trump told service members the Navy had successfully cleared the seas of “cartel terrorists,” stating, “We did another one last night. Now we just can’t find any.”
The President’s comment about the Saturday strike raised questions, as it was not immediately clear if he was referring to an earlier strike on Friday announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, which killed four people. That Friday incident was at least the fourth such deadly attack in recent weeks.
Trump signaled a potential shift in strategy, suggesting that because drug traffickers are no longer coming by sea, the US will now “have to start looking about the land.”
Defense Secretary Hegseth backed the operations on Sunday, telling Fox News he had “every authorization needed” for the Caribbean strikes. Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro released a video condemning US “aggression” and vowing that his country was ready to defend itself. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also expressed “full support and solidarity” with Caracas in a call with his Venezuelan counterpart.
US-Venezuela Tensions Flare After New Deadly Maritime Strike
The conflict between the United States and Venezuela escalated over the weekend as President Donald Trump announced a fifth suspected lethal strike on a vessel in the Caribbean. Speaking at Naval Station Norfolk, Trump praised the Navy for its mission to “blow the cartel terrorists the hell out of the water,” confirming, “we did another one last night.”
The announcement of a strike on Saturday evening comes immediately after a previous US attack on Friday, confirmed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, which resulted in four deaths. That previous strike was the fourth in a series of highly controversial kinetic operations against alleged drug vessels in recent weeks.
In a dramatic expansion of the conflict, Trump warned that the US would shift its focus to mainland Venezuela, stating traffickers are “not coming in by sea anymore, so now we’ll have to start looking about the land.”
Venezuela’s government responded swiftly. President Nicolas Maduro published a video message condemning the “US aggression” and declaring that his people are “ready to face any scenario.” Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil confirmed a show of diplomatic force, revealing a phone call with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov who offered “full expression of support and solidarity.”
Trump: US Hit Drug Boat Off Venezuela; Hegseth Claims Authorization
- US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that American forces struck another vessel allegedly carrying illegal drugs off the Venezuelan coast on Saturday evening.
- The comment, made at Naval Station Norfolk, follows a Friday strike announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that killed four people, the fourth such incident in recent weeks.
- Trump warned the US would now expand its focus to drug trafficking on land, saying smugglers are no longer using the sea route.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on Sunday he has “every authorization needed” for the Caribbean strikes.
- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro condemned “US aggression” in a video message but did not directly reference the latest strike.
- Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed “full expression of support and solidarity” with Venezuela in a phone call with his counterpart.
