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Senators in both parties raise questions about boat strikes

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27.10.2025

Senators from both parties are expressing concerns about President Trump’s unilateral approach to conducting military strikes against alleged drug cartel boats in the Caribbean.

On the Sunday show circuit, several lawmakers raised questions about the legality of the U.S. military campaign — which last week carried out its 10th attack in recent months on vessels that officials say are trafficking narcotics with the hope of reaching the U.S. — without congressional authorization.

While Democrats took a sharper tone than Republicans, there were members of Trump's party expressing reservations about the campaign.

In an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said Congress has seen no evidence to back up the Trump administration’s claims about drug trafficking and has not voted to authorize the efforts.

“So far, they have alleged that these people are drug dealers. No one said their name. No one said what evidence. No one said whether they’re armed. And we’ve had no evidence presented,” Paul said.

“So, at this point, I would call them extrajudicial killings,” he continued. “And this is akin to what China does, to what Iran does with drug dealers. They summarily execute people without presenting evidence to the public. So, it’s wrong.”

The U.S. military, at Trump’s direction, has carried out strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Venezuela, and more recently in the East Pacific.

Trump has also authorized CIA operations in Venezuela, and Defense Secretary........

© The Hill