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Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that US strikes ordered by President Donald Trump have destroyed four vessels allegedly carrying narcotics along known trafficking routes in the eastern Pacific. The attacks, which killed at least 57 people, have heightened regional tensions and ignited international debate over their legality. The campaign, which the US describes as part of its war against "narco-terrorism," marks a significant escalation as operations now extend from the Caribbean to the Pacific Ocean.
According to Hegseth, the strikes on Monday targeted vessels identified by US intelligence. Videos shared on social media showed the boats engulfed in flames after being hit by munitions. One survivor was rescued by Mexican authorities, though their condition remains unknown. "The department has spent over two decades defending other homelands," Hegseth wrote. "Now, we're defending our own."
However, the operation has drawn sharp criticism. International law experts and regional leaders from Colombia and Venezuela have condemned the attacks as "disproportionate" and "outside international law." Colombian Deputy Foreign Minister Mauricio Jaramillo argued that those on the vessels had "no process" and "no chance to defend themselves." The US, in response, insists that the strikes target major drug operations threatening American security.
The situation has further strained relations with South American nations, particularly as the US maintains sanctions on Colombia's president, Gustavo Petro, and accuses Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro of leading a drug-trafficking network. Meanwhile, the deployment of US troops and warships to the Caribbean, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, has sparked fears that Washington's campaign could expand to land-based targets. Despite international condemnation, President Trump remains defiant, insisting he has the legal authority to continue the strikes and expressing readiness to escalate operations if necessary.
