WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration stated that a Navy admiral acted within his authority when he ordered a second strike on a vessel suspected of drug trafficking in a U.S. military operation last month. The decision, described by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, comes amid mounting bipartisan scrutiny of the legality of U.S. military actions in the Caribbean.
The concerns arose following a report that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had authorized the follow-up strike, which reportedly targeted survivors from an initial missile strike on September 2. Leavitt did not contest the information about the survivors, stressing instead that the admiral's actions were lawful and necessary for national security.
President Biden and congressional leaders are now facing pressure to review the implications of these strikes, with some lawmakers suggesting that such actions could potentially rise to the level of war crimes. This situation demands immediate and thorough investigation, stated Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., emphasizing the seriousness of the allegations.
Amidst this discourse, Trump offered his support for Hegseth, asserting that he had not ordered the deaths of survivors and that the military operations were legally justified. Critics of the operation, however, are calling for transparency and accountability regarding the military's engagements in the Caribbean, where the U.S. has attributed approximately 80 fatalities to drug enforcement operations against small vessels connected to Venezuelan drug cartels.
The Venezuelan government has responded by launching its own investigation into the U.S. strikes, with leaders alleging that the operations have resulted in the deaths of Venezuelan nationals. This dual scrutiny from both American lawmakers and Venezuelan authorities highlights the complex geopolitical tensions underlying the U.S. military's presence in the region.
As tensions escalate, Biden is expected to convene discussions with his national security team to evaluate future military actions and broader strategy regarding Venezuela and its alleged ties to drug cartels.
