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The United States Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, warned this Wednesday that any drug trafficker attempting to operate in the Caribbean waters “will meet the same fate” as the eleven members of the criminal group Tren de Aragua who died following a U.S. military attack on a boat that had departed from Venezuela.
The action, ordered by President Donald Trump, was carried out in international waters and destroyed the vessel believed to be transporting drugs to Trinidad and Tobago or other Caribbean destinations.
Trump even shared a video on his social media platform Truth Social that shows the moment the ship was struck and sank.
The Secretary of Defense insisted that it was a "precision" attack, rejecting the claims made by Venezuela's Minister of Communications, Freddy Ñáñez, who alleged that the images were manipulated with artificial intelligence.
We knew exactly who was on that boat and who they represented: Tren de Aragua, trying to poison our country with illegal drugs,” declared Hegseth.
The head of the Pentagon added in an interview with Fox that the operation marks a "new era" in the fight against cartels and that the United States will keep warships deployed in the Caribbean to continue operations. "This is a serious and deadly mission for us, and it will not stop with this attack," he warned.
The military offensive is part of the strategy announced by Trump last month, which includes the deployment of multiple ships in waters near Venezuela as part of a campaign against drug trafficking.
The measure has been condemned by President Nicolás Maduro, who described it as an “extravagant, immoral, and criminal threat,” and responded with the deployment of drones and warships along the Venezuelan coast.
The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed this Tuesday that his country’s military forces conducted a “lethal” strike 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.
The operation takes place as part of Washington's "zero tolerance" strategy against drug trafficking and, in particular, against criminal organizations identified as receiving protection from the Maduro regime.
Frequently Asked Questions about the United States' Offensive Against Drug Trafficking in the Caribbean
What happened with the Tren de Aragua’s boat in the Caribbean?
The ship of the Tren de Aragua was destroyed in a U.S. military attack in the Caribbean, resulting in the death of 11 members of the organization. The action was part of a broader offensive against drug trafficking, ordered by President Donald Trump.
Why is the United States increasing its military presence in the Caribbean?
The United States has increased its military presence in the Caribbean as part of a "zero tolerance" strategy against drug trafficking. This measure includes the deployment of warships to intercept vessels linked to drug trafficking, particularly those associated with the regime of Nicolás Maduro, which Washington accuses of being a "narcoterrorist cartel."
What is the relationship between Nicolás Maduro's regime and drug trafficking according to the U.S.?
The United States accuses Nicolás Maduro's regime of operating as a "narcoterrorist cartel", under which organizations like the Tren de Aragua and the Cártel de los Soles traffic drugs to the North American country. The Trump administration has increased pressure on Maduro by offering rewards for his capture and designating these organizations as terrorists.
How has Venezuela responded to the United States' attack in the Caribbean?
The government of Nicolás Maduro has condemned the attack as an "extravagant, immoral, and criminal threat" and has deployed drones and warships along the Venezuelan coast as a defensive measure. Furthermore, Venezuela has denied any ties to drug trafficking and accuses the U.S. of manipulating attack videos using artificial intelligence.
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