Hegseth wrote on the “X” platform: “The ship was transporting drugs in the Caribbean and was attacked in international waters. No American service members were injured in the attack, but three terrorist drug traffickers on board were killed.” He explained that the ship belonged to an organization classified as “terrorist.” The United States justifies its military presence in the Caribbean by fighting drug trafficking.
In September and October, its armed forces were repeatedly used to destroy boats allegedly carrying drugs off the coast of Venezuela. In late September, American media reported that the U.S. military was working on options to target drug traffickers inside Venezuela.
In November, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his opinion that Maduro’s days as the leader of Venezuela were numbered, while affirming that Washington did not intend to go to war with Caracas. Maduro’s remarks came following the U.S. President’s announcement of his authorization for U.S. intelligence to carry out secret operations against Venezuela, amid an intensive American military campaign targeting alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Pacific regions, according to Western media.
