Senator Rand Paul Accuses Trump Administration of Unauthorized Extrajudicial Killings in Caribbean Drug Boat Strikes

Senator Rand Paul has strongly criticized President Trump’s military campaign targeting alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean Sea, describing the strikes as "extrajudicial killings" conducted without congressional authorization. Paul argues that the campaign, which has resulted in at least 43 deaths, bypasses constitutional requirements for Congress to approve acts of war and shifts what is traditionally a law enforcement issue into a military operation. He emphasizes that no evidence has been publicly presented to justify the killings, noting the lack of transparency about the identities or armaments of those targeted. Paul also compares the U.S. approach to practices in China and Iran, which he says summarily execute alleged drug dealers without due process. Despite President Trump indicating possible briefings or congressional notification, Paul states he has received no information and insists that briefings alone do not satisfy constitutional mandates. Only a few Republican senators, including Lisa Murkowski, have publicly opposed the strikes carried out under the current administration.