Without providing any proof that the ship was involved in drug trafficking, US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), which is spearheading the burgeoning “Southern Spear” military operation in the Latin America region, claimed the attack on Wednesday targeted “four male narco-terrorists.”
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In a post on social media, SOUTHCOM stated that the vessel was engaged in narco-trafficking operations while it was transiting along a well-known narco-trafficking route in the Eastern Pacific, along with a video that showed a speedboat being destroyed.
The attack, which was ordered by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, brings the total number of fatalities recorded in US attacks on 26 vessels to almost 100 since September in the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean.
Trump has defended the attacks as necessary to stop the flow of drugs into the US from drug cartels, especially those with bases in Venezuela, despite legal experts’ accusations that the US is carrying out a campaign of extrajudicial killings in international waters.
The House of Representatives, which has a majority of Republicans, voted 213 to 211 to reject a resolution mandating the president to halt US military operations with or against Venezuela without the approval of Congress.
Additionally, the House voted 216 to 210 to reject a resolution that would require Congress to authorize any terrorist organization that is “anywhat presidentially designated terrorist organization in the Western Hemisphere” to leave hostilities.
As Trump threatens military action to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government, thousands of troops, Washington’s largest aircraft carrier, and a nuclear-powered submarine are currently deployed in Latin America.
Trump’s administration called the move a “grotesque threat” that sought to “stole the riches that belong to our homeland,” and ordered a naval blockade of all oil tankers that were subject to US sanctions on Tuesday.
US soldiers boarded and seized the Skipper oil tanker last week off Venezuela’s coast, and it is alleged that they brought the ship to Texas to unload its oil cargo.
Following Trump’s announcement to end the sea blockade, Venezuela’s navy has begun escorting ships carrying petroleum products from ports, according to The New York Times. According to three people with knowledge of the situation, several ships left the nation’s east coast on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning with a naval escort, according to the Times.
As tensions increase between Washington and Caracas, Latin American leaders and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have also expressed concern.
The UN should take action to stop violence in Venezuela, according to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
It has not yet been there. She reiterated Mexico’s position of being against intervention and foreign interference in Venezuela on Wednesday, saying that it must take its place to stop any bloodshed.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, president of Brazil, expressed concern for President Trump’s actions toward and threats against Latin America. Additionally, Lula added that in a call with Trump earlier this month, he had urged dialogue between Caracas and Washington.
I told Trump, “If you are interested in talking to Venezuela properly, we can contribute,” and that “the power of the word can outweigh the power of the gun.” You must be patient, Lula said, and you must be willing to talk.
According to reports, Maduro and UN Secretary-General Guterres spoke in Venezuela and reportedly denounced the US naval blockade.
According to the Agencia Venezuela news website, Maduro “denounced… Venezuela’s recent escalation of colonial threats.”
Source: Aljazeera
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