This week’s unprecedented strikes by U.S. Marines on a vessel operated by a cartel indicated a forceful new strategy from the Trump administration in its efforts to combat the international drug trade.
Although the U.S. military has been engaged in countering cartel and international gang organizations since the late 1980s, the Tuesday strike, which resulted in the deaths of 11 members of a group designated as a terrorist organization by the Trump administration in February, signified a clear departure from prior operations focused on seizure and apprehension.
“The gloves are off,” stated Isaias Medina, a former Venezuelan UN diplomat and now a Caracas dissident under the Nicholas Maduro regime, to Digital. He added, “The recent U.S. Marine strike on the alleged Tren de Aragua narcotics vessel, operating from Venezuela under a regime deeply associated with crimes against humanity and narco-terrorism, represented a turning point in the battle against international organized crime.”
The President has consistently articulated his strong opposition to Maduro’s regime since his initial administration, going so far as to announce a $50 million reward for details leading to Maduro’s arrest and conviction.
Trump’s decision to deploy U.S. troops off the coast of the South American nation led Maduro on Monday to denounce the action as an effort to achieve regime change, stating, “Venezuela is confronting the biggest threat that has been seen on our continent in the last 100 years.”
The White House encountered criticism and inquiries concerning the implications of this strike for future U.S. policy regarding anti-cartel efforts and South American geopolitics.
During a Wednesday visit to Mexico, where he also addressed the issue of cross-border arms and narcotics smuggling, the Secretary of State aimed to clarify the situation, declaring, “The President of the United States is going to wage war on narco-terrorist organizations.”
Rubio contended that the prior policy of seizure and apprehension “doesn’t work.”
“Because these drug cartels — what they do is they recognize they will lose 2% of their cargo – they incorporate that into their financial models,” he explained. “What will truly halt them is when you destroy them, when you eliminate them.”
Medina suggested that an “unwilling or unable” approach concerning international cartel narcotics operations created an opening for Trump to intervene, emphasizing that the Marines adhered to strict rules of engagement when targeting a terrorist organization believed to be transporting drugs destined for the U.S.
“Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, supported by Maduro, functions similarly to other state-sponsored terror groups, such as Iran’s backing for the Houthis, Hamas, and Hezbollah, all of which destabilize regions through illicit trade and violence,” Medina remarked. “Safe havens in international waters are no longer sanctuaries for traffickers and smugglers.
“This strike delivers a clear warning that such operations now confront decisive and formidable resistance from American forces and their allies,” he further commented.
Notwithstanding Maduro’s suspicions that Trump’s ultimate objective is the removal of his government, experts maintain a degree of skepticism.
Even though the Tuesday operation represents an extension of Trump’s anti-Maduro policies, Juan Cruz, a former National Security Council senior director for Western Hemisphere affairs, expressed that he does not believe it signals any significant changes on the horizon, such as a regime change.
“I cannot envision this deployment having that specific objective,” Cruz informed Digital. “However, [Trump] would certainly regard it as a victory if, for some unforeseen reason, it resulted in that outcome.”