US Conducts 15 Military Strikes on Alleged Drug Boats in Caribbean, Killing 64

Since September, the Trump administration has conducted at least 15 military strikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Pacific, resulting in around 61-64 fatalities. President Trump has defended these actions as targeting illegal drugs entering the U.S., while critics question the legality and transparency of the strikes. The administration has also increased naval presence in the Caribbean, notably deploying the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, marking a significant military buildup not seen in over 30 years, amid speculation of regime change efforts against Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro. The Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel, led by T. Elliot Gaiser, has asserted that these strikes do not constitute "hostilities" under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, thus not requiring a congressional declaration of war or extension, a stance supported by a classified legal opinion equating drug cartels with terrorists. However, some lawmakers and legal experts have raised concerns about potential violations of U.S. and international law due to the lack of detailed public evidence and congressional authorization. The Trump administration's actions illustrate a contentious and unprecedented military approach to combating drug trafficking in the region while navigating complex legal and political challenges.