President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that U.S. forces had hit a drug-carrying ship in the southern Caribbean after it left Venezuela.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X that the ship was run by a “designated narco-terrorist organization” and called the strike lethal. Later, Trump posted on Truth Social that the vessel was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang. He said 11 people were killed in the operation.
Why It Matters
The strike comes after the U.S. recently increased its naval presence near Venezuela to fight Latin American drug cartels. Officials have not said they plan a land attack. In response, President Nicolás Maduro has sent troops to the coast and the border with Colombia and encouraged Venezuelans to join civilian militias.
Trump and Hegseth
President Donald Trump (L) holds a press conference at the White House with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (R) on September 2, 2025. Associated Press
What To Know
Tuesday’s announcement followed rising tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela since Trump returned to the White House in January.
In recent weeks, about 4,500 U.S. Navy troops have been sent to the Caribbean. The White House said this was to stop drugs coming from Venezuela to the U.S.
Trump said the strike, just before he appeared in the Oval Office, had a major impact on a ship carrying a large amount of drugs. Officials have said Venezuela is a key route for cocaine.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López said on Sunday that the country is ready to confront “any attack” from the U.S. Maduro called the U.S. action “an extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal and bloody threat.”
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Colombian President Gustavo Petro have also spoken out against the U.S. moves, saying they could raise tensions even more.
What People Are Saying
Trump posted on Truth Social: “The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States. No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America.”
Rubio told reporters before leaving for a diplomatic visit to Mexico and Ecuador that Trump “is going to be on offense against drug cartels and drug trafficking in the United States. It destabilizes not just the country but the entire Caribbean basin.”
He added, “The president has been very clear that he’s going to use the full power of America and the full might of the United States to take on and eradicate these drug cartels, no matter where they’re operating from and no matter how long they’ve been able to act with impunity. Those days are over.”
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said Monday: “President Donald Trump, the pursuit of regime change is exhausted; it has failed as a policy worldwide…You cannot pretend to impose a situation in Venezuela.”
Former national security adviser Michael Flynn wrote on X on Sunday: “Let’s Make Venezuela Great Again by capturing these terrorist group leaders. Get them off the streets and help the people of Venezuela have a vastly better life. The citizens of Venezuela don’t deserve to live under the tyrannical rule of Maduro or any of his henchmen!”
What Happens Next
It is not clear if the U.S. Navy will take further action against Venezuela, but Trump promised more details about the strike later Tuesday.
