The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that its Armed Forces carried out a “precision strike” in the southern Caribbean against a vessel that, according to official information, was operated by an organization classified as “narcoterrorist”.
The operation is part of Washington’s military strategy to combat drug trafficking in the region, especially that originating in Venezuela.
The attack confirmed by the Pentagon
High-ranking Pentagon sources told EFE that the action took place against a ship carrying drug cargo bound for U.S. territory.
Although details about the crew and the type of vessel have not been disclosed, the authorities specified that it was a “surgical” attack with precision weaponry.
Spokespersons added that more details of the operation will be released in the coming days.
Such actions, they explained, seek to stem the flow of cocaine and other illicit substances into the United States, where consumption and drug-related violence remain a national security concern.
Reaction from the White House
President Donald Trump celebrated the operation and praised Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, whom he called “incredible” for keeping him abreast of the military deployment.
According to Trump, the destroyed vessel had departed Venezuela with a drug shipment destined to flood the US market.
“We have a large amount of drugs coming into our country for a long time, and these come from Venezuela. They come out in large quantities. So we eliminated it,” the president said during a public statement.
Shortly thereafter, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on his X account (formerly Twitter) that the U.S. Army executed a “lethal attack in the southern Caribbean against a drug ship that had departed from Venezuela and was in the hands of a narco-terrorist organization.
Context of military deployment in the Caribbean
The United States is currently maintaining a reinforced deployment in the Caribbean:
Eight military ships equipped with missiles and a nuclear-powered submarine operate in waters near Venezuela.
The Pentagon argues that this presence is aimed at intercepting drug-laden vessels that, according to DEA data, depart from South America bound for Central and North America.
These types of operations have intensified in recent years as part of the “maximum pressure” strategy against the government of Nicolás Maduro, accused by Washington of being involved in large-scale drug trafficking activities.
Response from Venezuela
From Caracas, President Nicolás Maduro responded harshly and warned that his country faces “the greatest threat seen in the Americas in the last hundred years”.
The Venezuelan president assured that his nation would declare itself “in arms” in the event of a direct aggression by the United States.
“If our country were to be attacked, we will declare ourselves in arms to defend our sovereignty,” Maduro said in a televised speech.
Implications for Hispanics in the U.S.
For the Hispanic community living in the United States, this type of military action has a double meaning.
On the one hand, the government presents the operations as part of the fight against drug trafficking affecting Latino neighborhoods in cities such as Miami, Houston or New York, where consumption and associated violence continue to increase.
On the other hand, experts warn that the escalation of tension with Venezuela could have diplomatic and economic repercussions that impact families with direct ties in the region.
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.
