Post by : Meena Ariff

The US has confirmed a tragic loss of eight lives following its recent offensive on vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean, heightening existing tensions just days after American forces captured a Venezuelan oil tanker. This operation is part of an increasing US military presence in Latin America and the Caribbean.

An official statement revealed that three vessels were attacked in international waters on Monday under orders from US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, described as “lethal kinetic strikes.” The casualties included three on one vessel, two on another, and three on the last. Despite claims that those killed had ties to drug trafficking, no substantiating evidence has been released.

These actions have invited renewed international scrutiny concerning their legality. Since September, reports indicate over 90 fatalities from similar operations against vessels in proximity to Venezuela, spanning the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Legal experts and human rights advocates argue these could be perceived as extrajudicial killings executed far from recognized combat zones.

Domestically, the operations have prompted significant political inquiry. Several lawmakers have expressed concern regarding Hegseth’s involvement in past strikes, especially following a September incident where survivors of an earlier attack were targeted while clinging to debris in the sea.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon persists in enlarging its military presence near Venezuela, deploying US warships, submarines, drones, and fighter jets throughout the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. The US claims this is aimed at curtailing drug trafficking routes.

Venezuelan authorities, however, vehemently dispute this narrative, suggesting that the US is masking its ambitions for geopolitical and economic dominion under the guise of counter-narcotics efforts. They point to a recent seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker, after which US President Donald Trump stated, “I assume we’re going to keep the oil,” a statement that has further escalated tensions.

The situation is further complicated by regional decisions. Trinidad and Tobago has allowed US military aircraft to use its airports for logistical support in the weeks ahead, being just 12 kilometers from Venezuela at its closest point.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago has defended the cooperation with the US, taking a stringent position against drug trafficking, asserting that she would prefer to see traffickers “blown to pieces” rather than allowing them to harm her citizens.

In a retaliatory measure, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced that his country would cease gas supplies to Trinidad and Tobago, per reports from state media, which highlights the further decline in diplomatic and economic relations as military activities escalate.

This evolving scenario underscores escalating instability in the Caribbean and northern South America, raising alarms over sovereignty, adherence to international law, and the ramifications of intensified military actions in strategically essential maritime zones.

#Canada News #World News #US News