Pentagon Vows More Caribbean Anti-Cartel Strikes After 11 Killed On Venezuelan Boat — Part Of Border Security Crackdown

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signaled continued military operations against drug cartels in the southern Caribbean a day after a lethal U.S. strike on a Venezuelan-linked vessel killed 11 people. Details about the strike and legal authority remain unclear, while President Trump linked the crew to Tren de Aragua and shared footage of the incident. The deployments of U.S. warships, Marines, and surveillance flights reflect an escalating counternarcotics posture with diplomatic and legal risks, intersecting with the administration’s broader border security push.