US Marines Kill 11 on Cartel Vessel Off Venezuela Amid Rising Tensions

The Trump administration has intensified its military actions against Venezuelan drug cartels, notably conducting a strike that killed 11 members of the Tren de Aragua gang on a vessel off Venezuela’s coast, signaling a shift from previous policies focused on seizure and apprehension to more direct force. President Trump has linked Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to drug trafficking operations, specifically alleging his leadership of the Cartel of the Suns, and has increased the bounty on Maduro to $50 million. This military buildup, which includes naval ships and a nuclear submarine deployed to the southern Caribbean, has escalated tensions, with Maduro condemning the U.S. actions as a threat to sovereignty and accusing the administration of seeking regime change. Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed that the U.S. intends to wage war on narco-terrorist organizations, highlighting dissatisfaction with former policies. Venezuela has responded militarily by deploying drones, warships, and 15,000 troops to its borders, warning that any attack would be met with armed resistance. Despite U.S. denials of invasion plans, the operation’s bypassing of traditional maritime procedures has raised questions about the true extent of American intentions in the region.