Related videos:
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on Tuesday that military forces from his country carried out a "lethal" attack in the southern Caribbean against a drug-laden ship that had departed from Venezuela and was operated by an organization designated as a "narcoterrorist" by Washington.
"As @potus just announced a few moments ago, today the U.S. military carried out a lethal strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug boat that had departed from Venezuela and was being operated by a designated narcoterrorist organization," he stated on his personal account on X.
The announcement was initially made by President Donald Trump from the White House, who stated that the vessel was carrying a large amount of narcotics and that his country faces a constant flow of drugs from Venezuela.
“We just fired upon a ship that was carrying a large quantity of drugs. It left Venezuela and was coming in very strong,” Trump said at a press conference.
From his personal account on X, not an institutional one, the Secretary of State posted a second message with emojis that was somewhat unintelligible to users.
One of these emojis was the fire symbol.
The attack generated immediate tension in the region. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro labeled the incident as “the greatest threat faced in a hundred years” and described the U.S. military presence off his shores as “extravagant, immoral, criminal, and bloody.”
Maduro assured that Venezuela is in maximum readiness for defense and accused Washington of pushing the situation toward a point of no return.
The Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado described the moment as decisive for the political transition in her country and warned that Maduro's exit would have a domino effect on regional allies, particularly Cuba.
“The political and intelligence framework that connects Caracas with Havana will collapse with Maduro's fall. It will mark the beginning of the end for the Cuban dictatorship,” he stated.
Tensions have raised alarms in the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), which called for an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers to assess the situation, while the regime of Miguel Díaz-Canel expressed "unconditional support" for Venezuela in the face of what it described as "imperialist threats."
Washington raised a reward to 50 million dollars a few weeks ago for information leading to the capture of Maduro, whom it accuses of being the leader of a terrorist organization called the "Cartel de los Soles."
Frequently Asked Questions about the U.S. Attack on a Drug Ship from Venezuela
Why did the United States attack a drug boat in the Caribbean?
The United States carried out the attack as part of its strategy to combat drug trafficking in the region. The vessel, which departed from Venezuela, was operated by an organization designated as a "narco-terrorist" by Washington. This attack is part of a broader offensive against drug cartels that impact the U.S.
What has been Venezuela's reaction to the attack?
The president Nicolás Maduro characterized the attack as “the greatest threat faced in a hundred years” and described the presence of U.S. military forces as “extravagant, immoral, criminal, and bloody.” Venezuela has declared that it is in maximum readiness for defense and accuses Washington of pushing the situation to a point of no return.
What implications does this conflict have for Cuba?
The Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado stated that Maduro's fall could have a domino effect on his allies, especially Cuba. Cuba has expressed its "unconditional support" for Venezuela and describes U.S. actions as "imperialist threats." The downfall of Maduro's regime could weaken the political and intelligence alliance between Caracas and Havana.
How has the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) responded to this crisis?
Amid the growing tension in the region, CELAC convened an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers to assess the situation. The organization aims to analyze the impact of the U.S. military deployment and the potential repercussions for stability in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Filed under: