 "Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Reuters")
As Trump continues his war against the drug boats found in Venezuela, the US conducted another attack on an alleged drug trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific on Saturday, which killed three according to the statement by the Pentagon on Sunday.
The US Southern Command announced in a post on social media that, “Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics," as quoted by The Guardian.
The action came as US President Donald Trump said there should be open talk with Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro. Maduro is currently facing pressure from Washington amid an escalating military coup in the Caribbean.
The US has repeatedly accused Maduro of having ties with the illegal drug trade, while Maduro denies such accusations. According to The Guardian, the US President said, “We may be having some discussions with Maduro, and we’ll see how that turns out. They would like to talk.”
The talk signalled some signs of mediation. The US Southern Command’s post on Sunday said the boat was in international waters when it was struck by the Southern Spear joint taskforce. It did not give details on where the vessel was traveling from or what organization it was associated with.
According to Pentagon figures, the strikes have killed more than 80 people. Lawmakers, residents, human rights groups, and US allies have raised questions about the legality of the attacks.
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View AllThe latest deadly strike came as the US navy announced its most advanced aircraft carrier had arrived in the Caribbean Sea on Sunday in a display of power that raised questions about what the new influx of troops and weaponry could signal for the Trump administration’s intentions in South America.
The strikes have killed more than 80 people, according to Pentagon figures. Lawmakers in Congress, human rights groups and US allies have raised questions about the legality of the attacks.