On September 4th while discussions surrounded the issues of security and trade deals with Ecuador, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated that Venezuela is "in fact involved in drug trafficking." The Secretary of State also hinted at the U.S. preparing to respond to drug smugglers from U.S allied nations like Mexico and Ecuador.
Secretary Rubio stated that U.S. allied nations were working with the U.S. to address the issue of the drug trade into the country but stated that “In Venezuela, there is no legitimate country or cooperation. They are in fact involved in drug trafficking.”
This comes as ongoing tension continues to rise between the United States and Venezuela with U.S forces striking a boat on the Caribbean Sea on September 2 having reportedly killed 11 drug traffickers that had departed from Venezuela.
After news of the strike was released, questions have risen as to the legality of the attack with senators, both Democratic and Republican, voicing dissatisfaction with the administration’s rationale behind the attack.
In response to the recent statements and actions, Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro has made claims that President Donald J. Trump is pursuing a “Hollywoodized” war with Venezuela.
As of Monday, September 15th, President Maduro stated in a press conference that recent incidents between his country and the United States are an "aggression" by the U.S and that recent actions are “a diplomatic aggression and an ongoing aggression of military character”.
The White House recently posted to X that a second strike occurred “against positively identified, extraordinarily violent drug trafficking cartels and narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility.”
This attack was reported to occur within international waters against “confirmed narcoterrorists from Venezuela”.
The fate of relations between Venezuela and the United States now hangs in a precarious place with tensions rising between the two governments.
