Sen. Rand Paul Joins Effort to Block Trump Military Drug Boat Strikes in Caribbean

Senator Rand Paul has strongly condemned President Donald Trump's recent military strikes on suspected drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean, calling the actions illegal and contrary to U.S. traditions of war and peace. Paul argues that such strikes lack proper evidence and identification of targets, contrasting them with Coast Guard procedures that involve boarding and searching vessels. He emphasizes that the president oversteps constitutional authority by ordering military actions without congressional approval, asserting that a declaration of war should be required for such operations. Paul has joined Democrats Senators Tim Kaine and Adam Schiff in introducing a Senate resolution to block these strikes and reaffirm that war powers reside with Congress. President Trump has responded with sharp criticism of Paul, accusing him of disloyalty to the Republican Party despite Paul's continued support for Trump on other issues. Meanwhile, U.S. officials maintain the strikes comply with international law, citing self-defense against drug cartels linked to Venezuela's regime, which has condemned the actions and called for United Nations intervention.