Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on 3/9 that Washington will continue its aggressive strategy against drug trafficking after the US military destroyed a "drug boat" from Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea for the first time.
"For years, the US has gathered intelligence to intercept drug boats, but this method hasn't been effective. The only way to stop them is to blow them up, to destroy them," Rubio said at a press conference during a visit to Mexico.
He noted that transnational drug cartels factor in the risk of losing about 2% of their shipments to the US. President Donald Trump ordered more decisive action, starting with the destruction of the drug boat carrying 11 suspected members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang.
"Under the president's orders, instead of intercepting, we blew up the boat. There will be more incidents like this. There might be another operation happening right now," he said.
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The USS Iwo Jima patrols the Atlantic Ocean in March, before being deployed to Latin America in August. Photo: US Navy |
The USS Iwo Jima patrols the Atlantic Ocean in March, before being deployed to Latin America in August. Photo: US Navy
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon knew the identities and specific roles of everyone on board the destroyed boat. "President Trump is ready to take proactive, offensive action at a level we haven't seen before," Hegseth said.
The US government has not released evidence that those on board were members of the Tren de Aragua gang, which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government claims to have dismantled in a 2023 raid.
Many details remain undisclosed, including the type and quantity of drugs seized, and how the boat was destroyed. The Pentagon has not held a press conference to provide information about the operation.
Venezuelan Communications Minister Freddy Nanez questioned the authenticity of the video released by the US, suggesting it was fabricated using AI. However, the US defense secretary refuted this on Fox, stating he watched the attack via a live military feed.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio holds a press conference in Mexico on 3/9. Photo: AFP |
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio holds a press conference in Mexico on 3/9. Photo: AFP
The Trump administration earlier this year designated several Latin American gangs and criminal organizations, including Tren de Aragua, as international terrorist groups. Rubio and Vice President JD Vance cited this designation to justify the attacks in southern waters.
The attack comes weeks after the US deployed additional military assets to the Caribbean and South America, including 7 warships, a nuclear submarine, and thousands of troops.
Former US ambassador Luis Moreno, a veteran of anti-drug efforts, said, "If this was a large-scale drug operation, the US should have tracked it to its destination and apprehended all suspects. Destroying the vessel in international waters is unusual." He added that the operation might be more about sending a message than operational effectiveness.
Benjamin Gedan, a Venezuela expert at Johns Hopkins University, also questioned the appropriateness of the action.
"Normally, US forces would intercept, arrest the suspects, bring them to trial, and pursue higher-ups in the organization. Killing 11 suspects on the boat is not the traditional approach," he said.
Thanh Danh (According to CNN, AP)
