US Legislators Raise Concerns Over Trump's Caribbean Military Strikes

President Donald Trump's administration has escalated military actions in the Caribbean, targeting vessels alleged to be involved in drug trafficking near Venezuela, resulting in multiple airstrikes and a significant naval deployment. These strikes, part of Trump's declared war on drug cartels, have led to at least ten attacks, provoking criticism from lawmakers across the political spectrum who question the legality and evidence supporting these operations. Republican Senator Rand Paul and Democratic Senator Tim Kaine have expressed concerns about the lack of public evidence and the absence of congressional authorization, labeling the strikes as extrajudicial killings. Concurrently, Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned the U.S. military activities in Latin America as violations of international law and a threat to regional stability. The U.S. military buildup includes the deployment of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and joint exercises with regional partners like Trinidad and Tobago, underscoring Washington's intensified counter-narcotics campaign. These developments have sparked a broader debate in Congress regarding the executive branch's unilateral military actions and their implications for international norms and U.S. foreign policy.