America’s military operation near Venezuela continues to expand

The US is eight weeks into a military campaign in the waters around South America against what the Trump administration describes as “narco-terrorists” smuggling drugs headed to America.

However, even after the US government’s ninth strike against an alleged drug-carrying vessel on Wednesday—which brought the confirmed death toll to 37—White House officials have yet to tell Congress or the American public who was killed, or on what evidence.

• The most recent US strikes came on the Pacific side of the continent, representing an expansion of the military’s initial targeting area on the Atlantic side of South America.
• Much of the cocaine from the world’s largest producers is smuggled in these waters, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week referring to the alleged drug-runners as “the ‘Al Qaeda’ of our hemisphere.”

The arguments

President Trump and his administration have justified the attacks as a necessary measure to stem the flow of illegal drugs into the US, relying on the same legal authority used by the Bush admin when it declared a war on terror following the September 11 attacks.

But as the number of strikes continues to grow, many political opponents—and even some Republican lawmakers—haved raised questions about the justifications for Trump’s actions.

• They specifically cite a lack of any legal investigation, hard evidence, or a traditional declaration of war from Congress.
• Some experts also note that the shipping routes targeted by US military strikes are typically used to ferry drugs to Europe and Africa, not to America as Trump is claiming.

There’s also the question of local regime change. The strikes near South American waters come as the Trump admin has deployed an unprecedented number of warships, spy planes, fighter jets, bombers, drones, and Marines off the coast of Venezuela. The President also recently confirmed that he authorized covert CIA operations on Venezuelan soil.

• These factors have fueled rumors that the US could overthrow Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro by military force in the coming weeks or months.

Looking ahead…Trump admin officials reportedly possess a “near unshakeable” belief that America’s recent pressure campaign near Venezuela will result in Maduro either being deposed—potentially via a land-based US attack—or stepping down in the near future.

📊 Flash poll: In general, do you support or oppose the Trump admin’s recent military actions in the waters near South America?

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