In an aerial surveillance video, a small boat sailing is hit by a missile and explodes. The images start to repeat themselvesand the authorities of the United States of America (USA) have explained attacks on alleged drug trafficking vessels as self-defense.
Washington struck a vessel off the Venezuelan coast again on Tuesday, resulting in the death of six people. Using his Truth Social platform, Donald Trump stated that the vessel belonged to “narco-terrorists” and that it was “trafficking narcotics”. And the fifth attack orchestrated by the Trump administration in international waters since September, having killed a total of 27 people.
Many international law experts question the legality of military action like this. “Legally, the US is not in armed conflict with Venezuela, and They do not have the right to resort to armed conflict to combat drug trafficking, just as they clearly do not have the right to change the regime.”considers Mary Ellen O’Connell, professor of Law and Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame. Likewise, he maintains, “Venezuela does not have the right to use military force against the USA, even to contain American attacks on small vessels, and must employ other means”.