Controversy Surrounds US Navy Strikes on Venezuelan Drug Boats

Tue Dec 02 2025 20:25:22 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The US Navy's recent military strikes on alleged drug boats off the Venezuelan coast raise questions of legality and ethics, prompting congressional scrutiny.

The US Navy, under the command of Admiral Frank Bradley, executed a second military strike on what was described as a Venezuelan drug boat. This decision, confirmed by the White House, has been met with bipartisan concern from lawmakers who are calling for congressional reviews of the actions. The strikes have led to increased scrutiny of both the legality and ethics surrounding the targeting of alleged survivors, as reports suggest that civilian protections for shipwrecked individuals may have been ignored. These interventions occur amid escalating tensions between the US and Venezuela, echoing larger geopolitical issues in the region.

A top US Navy commander ordered a second round of military strikes on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat, the White House has confirmed.

Admiral (Frank) Bradley worked well within his authority and the law in ordering the additional strike, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday.

Leavitt confirmed Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth authorised the strikes but did not give an order to kill everybody, as the Washington Post reported. The second strike was reportedly executed after two people survived the initial blast and were clinging to the burning vessel.

Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have expressed concern over the report and vowed congressional reviews of the strikes.

President (Donald) Trump and Secretary Hegseth have made it clear that presidentially designated narco-terrorist groups are subject to lethal targeting in accordance with the laws of war, Leavitt added during her Monday briefing.

Experts have raised serious doubts about the legality of attacking alleged survivors, arguing they may have been protected as shipwrecked individuals. The Trump administration has framed its operations in the Caribbean as part of a non-international armed conflict with drug traffickers, which comes with its own set of rules as defined by the Geneva Conventions.

Amid these developments, tensions between the US and Venezuela have increasingly escalated, with the Trump administration accusing the Venezuelan government of harboring narco-terrorists and expressing interest in deploying ground forces in the country.

As concerns over legality and ethics rise, ongoing congressional oversight aims to gather critical insights on these military actions and their implications for international law and relations.