The US has attacked a Venezuelan motorboat, which was allegedly transporting drugs. According to President Trump, 11 people were killed in the operation, and the motorboat belonged to the Venezuelan drug gang Tren de Aragua. How exactly the operation itself took place is not clear. Trump wrote only that no American soldiers were injured.
"Warning to all"
„The attack was carried out while the terrorists were in international waters on the high seas and transporting drugs to the United States“, the US president wrote on his Truth Social platform. „This should serve as a warning to anyone who is considering importing drugs into the United States of America.“ Trump's post also showed videos showing a boat being attacked and set on fire.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote earlier in X that the speedboat was operated by a group classified as a terrorist organization, calling the operation a "death blow." The Trump administration has designated several organized crime groups as terrorist organizations, including the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang and the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico.
US increases military presence
The conflict between Venezuela and the US has escalated recently. The US announced that it is increasing its military presence in Venezuelan territorial waters to counter threats related to Latin American drug cartels. A US Department of Defense official told the Associated Press that a naval unit with more than 4,000 crew members will arrive in the region this week.
In addition, the US government doubled to $ 50 million a reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The US justice system accuses him of being involved in international drug trafficking. Trump said that the Tren de Aragua gang, which he often mentions as part of his tough policy against illegal migration, operates “ under the control “ of Maduro.
The greatest threat in 100 years
Maduro himself described the US military presence in the Caribbean as “ the greatest threat “ in a century. "Venezuela is facing the greatest threat our continent has experienced in the last 100 years," he told foreign correspondents at a news conference yesterday. He threatened armed resistance in the event of a US attack. Maduro had previously announced his intention to recruit additional militiamen.