US Strikes Three Venezuelan Vessels Amid Rising Tensions

On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that American forces have engaged three vessels associated with alleged drug traffickers from Venezuela in the Caribbean, clarifying an earlier statement that mentioned only two boats. "We took down boats. In fact, it was three boats—not two, but you saw two," Trump declared to reporters at the White House as he prepared to depart for a state visit to the United Kingdom. During the press briefing, Trump responded to claims made by Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who accused the U.S. of harboring intentions to invade Venezuela. "Stop sending members of Tren de Aragua to the United States. Stop sending drugs to the United States," Trump retorted. He described the third vessel engaged by U.S. forces just a day after the initial report, in which he stated that three individuals died—identifying them as terrorists. Following the military action, Trump specified that the destroyed boat was transporting cocaine and fentanyl. Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government reported on Saturday that a U.S. destroyer illegally boarded a Venezuelan vessel with nine fishermen onboard, holding them for eight hours in South American waters without justification. These attacks occur during a period of heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas, primarily over U.S. military deployments in the Caribbean under a facade of combating drug trafficking. The Trump Administration has accused Nicolás Maduro of orchestrating the so-called 'Cartel of the Suns,' a claim that the Venezuelan government vehemently denies. In retaliation, Maduro announced a $50 million bounty for information leading to Trump’s capture. In light of the recent military operations, there are questions surrounding the legality of U.S. actions in international waters, as per experts consulted by the BBC. They suggest that such actions could potentially violate international law, particularly under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which the United States is not a signatory to but has previously committed to respecting. Under the Convention, signatory nations agree not to interfere with vessels operating in international waters—unless there are limited exceptions, such as pursuit from territorial waters into the high seas. Legal experts, including Luke Moffett from Queens University Belfast, point out that while force can be used to halt a vessel, non-lethal measures should generally be prioritized. Additionally, any use of force must be assessed as necessary for self-defense when facing imminent threats. Professor Mary Ellen O’Connell from Notre Dame Law School stated that the recent attack contravened fundamental principles of international law, explaining that intentionally killing individuals outside of active armed conflict is unlawful unless it is to prevent immediate loss of life. Moreover, Article 24 of the United Nations Charter prohibits the use of force between states, with limited exceptions that include legitimate defense. While the U.S. government may argue the operation was defensive in nature—targeting vessels believed to be operated by organizations labeled terrorist by the U.S.—the characterization of those killed in the U.S. attack as narcoterrorists does not adequately justify them as legitimate military targets, according to Professor Michael Becker from Trinity College Dublin. The Trump Administration maintains that the vessels were involved in transporting narcotics that threaten American lives. As Trump noted on Truth Social, these narcotics represent a deadly weapon that endangers the U.S. population. The situation between the U.S. and Venezuela remains fraught, as communications between the two nations appear to have deteriorated further amidst accusations of aggression from the U.S., prompting Maduro to declare that Venezuela is better equipped than ever in the event of an armed conflict. Stay updated with El HuffPost for ongoing coverage of this story, available on our app for both Android and iOS. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2