The United States’ so-called “war on drugs” in Latin America has long been criticized as a geopolitical instrument rather than a genuine effort to curb narcotics trafficking. Today, Washington’s actions in Venezuela appear to reaffirm that claim. Under the guise of combating “narcotrafficking,” American forces have reportedly killed at least 21 Venezuelans in recent weeks without evidence, due process, or accountability. These killings, coupled with an alarming military buildup in the Caribbean, strongly suggest that Washington’s campaign is less about drugs and more about toppling the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

The Trump administration, now once again adopting an interventionist posture in South America, claims to be targeting “violent drug traffickers and narcoterrorists.” Yet neither President Donald Trump nor Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has provided verifiable evidence to support these assertions. Instead, what has emerged are reports of US troops and naval forces carrying out attacks on Venezuelan vessels in international waters – actions that amount to extrajudicial executions and clear violations of international law.

In one particularly egregious incident, on September 12, US personnel from the Navy destroyer USS Jason Dunham boarded and detained the Venezuelan fishing vessel Carmen Rosa for eight hours within Venezuelan territorial waters. No drugs were found, no arrests made only a clear message of intimidation sent to Caracas. This operation, along with the alleged missile strikes on small Venezuelan boats, signals a deliberate provocation that threatens to escalate into open conflict.

The pretext of narcotics trafficking has been a convenient tool for Washington for decades, used to justify military incursions and regime-change operations across Latin America. From Panama in 1989 to Colombia and Bolivia in subsequent years, the United States has repeatedly weaponized the “war on drugs” narrative to advance strategic and economic interests. In Venezuela’s case, the target is not cocaine cartels – it’s sovereignty........

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