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The President of the United States, Donald Trump, warned this Monday that any vessel attempting to challenge the naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz will be confronted with the same “swift and brutal” method that his administration uses against drug trafficking at sea.
In a message posted on Truth Social, Trump made it clear that Washington does not consider a conventional response to the fast boats of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, but rather the direct application of lethal tactics already used in drug operations in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific, within the framework of Operation Southern Lance.
"If any of these ships approaches our blockade, it will be eliminated immediately, using the same system we employ against drug traffickers at sea. It is fast and brutal," the leader stated.
The reference points to Operation Southern Lance, an active campaign since 2025 under U.S. Southern Command, focused on intercepting and neutralizing vessels linked to drug trafficking.
This operation has marked a change in the anti-drug strategy by including direct attacks on narco boats deemed threats, with dozens of actions carried out and a significant toll on criminal networks.
Trump stated that these operations have succeeded in stopping the flow of drugs into the United States by sea, claiming that 98.2% of the shipments entering by ocean or sea have been intercepted.
The president's warning brings that same approach to the Gulf region, where the United States maintains a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz following the failure of negotiations with Iran regarding its nuclear program.
Although a large part of the conventional Iranian navy has been destroyed, Tehran retains a considerable number of fast attack boats, equipped with missiles and designed for swarm tactics, regarded as its main tool of asymmetric warfare in the region.
The message from Trump suggests that these vessels will be treated under the same rules of engagement used against drug trafficking: identification as a threat, immediate response, and use of lethal force without progressive escalation.
From Iran, the authorities have characterized the U.S. blockade as an illegal action and have warned of potential reprisals. However, the White House insists that the measure is a response to Tehran's failure to reopen the maritime passage, which is crucial for global energy trade.
With this stance, Washington reinforces an approach that blurs the line between conventional military operations and transnational security tactics, applying an operational model already tested in the fight against drug trafficking in international waters to the conflict with Iran.
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