US strikes on Latin American 'drug boats': What do we know, and are they legal?

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 5 min read 100% complete by Matt Murphy & Joshua CheethamOctober 20, 2025 at 11:25 PM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

The US has carried out a series of strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea, killing multiple individuals accused of being drug traffickers. The strikes were announced by President Donald Trump, who claimed that the vessels were operated by the Tren de Aragua cartel and carrying drugs bound for the US. However, some experts have questioned the legality of these actions, citing international law. The US is not a signatory to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, but its military's legal advisors say they should act in accordance with the convention. The strikes have been condemned by some Latin American leaders, who claim that the vessels were not Venezuelan as claimed by the White House. Experts argue that the use of lethal force may be unlawful under international law.

Keywords

us strikes on drug boats 80% latin american drug trafficking 70% international law of the sea 60% un convention on the law of the sea 50% self-defence 50% narco-terrorism 40%

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Very Negative
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Source
BBC News - World
Political Lean
Center (0.00)
Far LeftCenterFar Right
Classification Confidence
90%
Geographic Perspective
United States

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