
U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a second strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug vessel, intensifying a sharp military buildup in the southern Caribbean and fueling tensions with President Nicolás Maduro.
The strike comes as the Trump administration ramps up its regional presence. On Saturday, five F-35 stealth fighters landed in Puerto Rico, part of a deployment of 10 jets. At least seven US warships and a nuclear-powered submarine are also operating in Caribbean waters.
Speaking to reporters, Trump hinted that operations could soon expand beyond maritime targets:
“When they come by land, we’re going to be stopping them the same way we stopped the boats. But maybe by talking about it a little bit, it won’t happen.”
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, addressing sailors and Marines off Puerto Rico earlier this month, told them they were on the “front lines” of a critical counter-narcotics mission. On Monday, he wrote on X:
“We will track them, kill them, and dismantle their networks throughout our hemisphere at the times and places of our choosing.”
Maduro swiftly condemned the latest strike, calling US actions “aggression” and warning that communications between Caracas and Washington had all but collapsed.
Last month, the US doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million, accusing him of deep ties to organized crime.
The strike follows a September 2 attack on another alleged drug vessel, which US officials said was linked to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang.
Washington claimed 11 people were killed. But Venezuela denied the allegation, insisting none of the victims were gang members and accusing the US of fabricating evidence.
A Venezuelan official even suggested the video Trump shared of that incident had been generated with artificial intelligence—a claim Reuters said it could not verify.
The Pentagon has not disclosed what drugs were seized, how much contraband was aboard, or the weapons used in either operation.
Officials confirmed the first vessel appeared to be turning back when it was hit, raising questions about the legality of the strike.
Critics say the decision to destroy suspected drug vessels rather than seize them is highly unusual, with some warning of potential constitutional conflicts since only Congress can declare war.
Democratic Senator Adam Schiff said Monday he is drafting a resolution under the War Powers Act to force a congressional vote on limiting unilateral military action against non-state actors.
Meanwhile, Trump has directed that the Department of Defense be rebranded as the Department of War, pending congressional approval—a change that would formally re-title Hegseth as “Secretary of War.”