Tensions Grow Between the U.S. and Venezuela After Third Drug Boat is Attacked
Mathew Gerken
Staff Writer
On Friday, September 19, the United States military destroyed an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean Sea that reportedly departed from Venezuela. President Trump claimed in a social media post that the boat was “affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization conducting narcotrafficking in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility”, as reported by PBS News. This is the second strike in September, with an earlier attack occurring on September 2, and is the third strike overall. These operations show a recent trend of increasing tensions between Venezuela and the U.S.
Venezuela has expressed its outrage at this incident, calling the growing hostilities between the U.S. and Venezuela an “undeclared war” as stated by Al Jazeera. Colombian President Gustavo Petro stated in an interview that the U.S. strikes of Venezuelan boats were “an act of tyranny,” as reported by the BBC News . The United Nations has been ambiguous on its judgement, as there is currently no verdict on the legality of the U.S.’s actions. Venezuela has requested an investigation on this issue to the UN, and has called this attack “direct provocation,” as stated by Al Jazeera. Legal experts told BBC News that the strike on the first vessel in international waters may have violated maritime and international law, although the U.S is not a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which regulates such matters. These third-party groups could provide potential aid or disruption for both sides and may provoke either nation into a potential conflict.
The U.S. has claimed that it has a legal right to operate against potential drug traffickers and President Trump stated that “intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking illicit narcotics, and was transiting along a known narcotrafficking passage enroute to poison Americans,” according to BBC News. President Trump also said there was “recorded evidence” and bags of narcotics in the debris, reported by ABC News. The U.S. has increased its presence in the Caribbean over the past month, and these strikes demonstrate the escalation of U.S.-Venezuelan tensions in recent months, as noted by The Washington Post. Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Secretary of War, addressed troops stationed on Puerto Rico on September 8, and the Department of War has increased its overall military presence on the island. The strikes carried out on September 19 were conducted by American F-35 fighter jets stationed on Puerto Rico, according to Al Jazeera.
Venezuela has not only responded diplomatically but has also demonstrated its military capabilities in a three-day military exercise. These training operations on the island of La Orchila, where Venezuela has a military base, demonstrated Venezuela’s proficiency with both amphibious and naval warfare , as reported by The Guardian. Venezuela has also been increasing its electronic warfare abilities, however it is uncertain if the Maduro regime intends these demonstrations as a show of force or a serious warning. Diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Venezuela continue to worsen, and unless neutral nations like Colombia or international organizations like the UN intervene, they are unlikely to deescalate anytime soon. The U.S. is currently still active in the Caribbean Sea and will keep a noticeable military presence until the dispute is resolved.
Image courtesy of Getty Images.
