Venezuela Accuses US Marines of Illegal Fishing Boat Boarding in Caribbean

Venezuela has accused the United States Navy of illegally and aggressively boarding a Venezuelan tuna fishing vessel carrying nine fishermen within Venezuelan waters, escalating tensions between the two countries. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil described the incident as a hostile and illegitimate act carried out by 18 armed U.S. personnel who remained on the boat for eight hours, disrupting operations before releasing the fishermen under Venezuelan navy escort. The Venezuelan government emphasized the fishing boat had proper authorization and condemned the boarding as a direct provocation aimed at justifying military escalation in the Caribbean. This incident follows a recent U.S. strike that killed 11 people aboard a vessel alleged by President Trump to be linked to Venezuelan drug traffickers, claims Venezuela denies, accusing the U.S. of extrajudicial killings without presenting evidence. Venezuela's authorities reiterated their commitment to defending sovereignty and warned against further provocations, while criticizing U.S. military actions as irresponsible and politically motivated. The White House has not commented on the boarding, and tensions remain high amid ongoing disputes over drug trafficking allegations and regime legitimacy.