On December 15, 2025, the U.S. military reported conducting strikes on three boats in the Eastern Pacific, which it alleged were involved in drug trafficking. This operation is part of a broader campaign initiated by the Trump administration, which has resulted in at least 95 deaths across 25 strikes since its inception in early September. The U.S. Southern Command characterized the targets as 'male narco-terrorists' operating along established drug trafficking routes, and the strikes were authorized by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The military's actions have been framed as a 'non-international armed conflict' against drug cartels, which have been designated as terrorist organizations. However, this characterization has faced increasing scrutiny. Some Democratic lawmakers, along with a few Republicans, have raised concerns about the legal authority under which these strikes are conducted, particularly in light of the lack of publicly available evidence supporting the claims of drug trafficking activities by the targeted vessels. Critics have pointed to a September 2 strike that reportedly killed survivors from an initial attack, raising allegations that such actions could amount to war crimes.

The military's operations have intensified the U.S. presence in the Caribbean and Latin America, with increased naval and air assets deployed to the region. The Trump administration has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of collaborating with drug cartels, while also criticizing Colombia's handling of drug trafficking. Both Venezuela and Colombia have condemned the U.S. strikes, with Venezuela alleging that the U.S. is pursuing regime change under the guise of combating drug trafficking.

Legal experts have expressed concerns regarding the legality of these military actions, particularly the implications of targeting individuals who may be shipwrecked and defenseless. The White House has defended the strikes as necessary for national security, asserting compliance with the laws of armed conflict. However, the lack of transparency surrounding the operations, including the withholding of full video footage from the public, has drawn criticism from lawmakers and human rights organizations.

As tensions escalate, the U.S. military has positioned thousands of troops and the USS Gerald Ford, the largest aircraft carrier, near Venezuela. The administration's approach has raised questions about the effectiveness and justification of military actions framed as drug interdiction, especially given that fentanyl, which has been classified as a weapon of mass destruction by President Trump, typically does not originate from Venezuela.