Following a recent American military strike on a suspected drug-carrying vessel in the Caribbean, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the two survivors will be repatriated to Ecuador and Colombia, their respective home countries. The military intervened after targeting a submersible vessel last Thursday, marking the sixth such incident since early September.
In a social media post, Trump expressed pride in destroying a large drug-carrying submarine en route to the United States along a notorious drug trafficking route. Intelligence reports confirmed the vessel was predominantly loaded with Fentanyl and other illicit narcotics.
The Pentagon subsequently released a brief black-and-white video of the strike, showing the vessel moving through the water with its front submerged before multiple explosions occurred, including one at the rear. Trump revealed that two individuals onboard were killed, one more than initially reported, while the surviving pair will be sent back to their countries for legal action.
With the acknowledgment of casualties on his Truth Social platform, the total death toll from U.S. military actions against vessels in the region now stands at 29. Trump defended the strikes by asserting the U.S. is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels, citing legal authority akin to the post-9/11 war on terrorism for capturing combatants, using lethal force against leadership, and treating suspected traffickers as enemy combatants.
The decision to repatriate the survivors circumvents potential legal complexities within the U.S. justice system and avoids the challenges associated with detaining enemy combatants. However, some legal experts argue that Trump’s use of military force against drug cartels and covert actions in Venezuela may push the boundaries of international law.
Trump’s administration has faced criticism from lawmakers for the lack of transparency regarding the strikes. Despite bipartisan concerns, most Republican senators supported a measure last week that would mandate congressional approval for future strikes. Additionally, there is a resolution in the works to prevent unilateral attacks on Venezuela without congressional consent.