The United States military confirmed that four people were killed in a strike on a boat in international waters, marking the 20th reported attack on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific. The incident occurred as officials in President Donald Trump’s administration reportedly held discussions on potential military operations in Venezuela.
In a statement on X on Friday, November 14, 2025, the US Southern Command said the Monday strike was authorized by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, targeting a boat “trafficking narcotics,” though no evidence was provided. Accompanying footage showed the vessel traveling in the Caribbean before being struck and engulfed in flames.
Experts in international law and human rights have warned that such attacks could constitute extrajudicial executions, even if the targets are suspected of drug trafficking. The Trump administration has carried out at least 20 similar strikes in recent months, resulting in approximately 80 deaths.
Operation Southern Spear
According to Reuters, senior Trump administration officials held three meetings at the White House this week to consider possible military action against Venezuela. The US has significantly expanded its military presence in the region, deploying F-35 aircraft, warships, and a nuclear submarine.
The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, including the world’s largest aircraft carrier, arrived in the Caribbean earlier this week with around 4,000 sailors and numerous tactical aircraft. In total, approximately 12,000 US sailors and Marines are now stationed in the area under the operation named “Southern Spear” by Secretary Hegseth.
While the US Constitution grants Congress the authority to declare war, President Trump has indicated he would not necessarily seek such approval to continue targeting drug traffickers. Public opinion appears largely unsupportive: a Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only 29% of Americans back extrajudicial killings of suspected traffickers, and just 21% support military intervention in Venezuela.
Regional Response
The US military buildup has drawn criticism across Latin America. Leaders from several countries argue that the strikes violate the 2014 “Zone of Peace” agreement, signed by the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Havana. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla described the deployment as a provocation threatening regional self-determination.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Colombian President Gustavo Petro have also condemned the actions. Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro warned in a national broadcast that the Trump administration is creating a “new eternal war” and stated that his country has prepared a “massive deployment” in case of US aggression.
