In a high-stakes operation in the eastern Pacific, the U.S. military struck a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in international waters, killing all three people aboard. The action, announced by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on social media X, marks the latest effort in a widening maritime campaign against narco-terrorism.
Hegseth described the target as a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO) moving narcotics along known transit routes. "These are not simply drug runners; these are narco-terrorists bringing death and destruction to our cities," he wrote, vowing that "these strikes will continue, day after day… until the threat to the American people is extinguished."
Since September, the U.S. military has conducted seven such operations in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific, resulting in at least 37 fatalities. Many of these missions have intercepted boats alleged to be trafficking drugs from Venezuela toward U.S. markets.
In Bogota, Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the latest strike as "murder," questioning its compliance with international law. Colombia's Foreign Ministry also demanded an immediate halt to the attacks, calling for diplomatic solutions over unilateral military action.
The ongoing maritime operations raise urgent questions: How should nations balance assertive anti-narcotics measures with respect for international norms? What tools or partnerships can improve transparency at sea and reduce lethal encounters? As drug routes evolve, so must the strategies to safeguard global waterways and uphold the rule of law.
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U.S. military strikes another alleged drug boat in the eastern Pacific
cgtn.com
