Two survivors of a Thursday U.S. military strike targeting suspected drug traffickers on a vessel in the Caribbean will be repatriated to their home countries. President Donald Trump confirmed the repatriation on social media Saturday.
The two men are expected to be returned to Colombia and Ecuador following their apprehension at sea.
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The operation marks the sixth such strike by U.S. forces in the region over the past several weeks as part of an intensified campaign against maritime drug smuggling. The Navy confirmed that the survivors were picked up and temporarily detained aboard a U.S. vessel. Reuters reported that two other crew members were killed during the strike, raising the total number of fatalities stemming from U.S. military actions against alleged drug-running vessels in the Caribbean to 28.
Trump addressed reporters on Friday, stating that the recent strike involved a submarine allegedly loaded with illegal narcotics.
“Just so you understand, this was not an innocent group of people. I don’t know too many people that have submarines,” Trump said, emphasizing the seriousness of the operation and the nature of the target. “And that was an attack on a drug-carrying loaded up submarine.”
The incident comes as the Trump administration steps up efforts to combat international drug trafficking while expanding its focus to political developments in South America. On Wednesday, Trump confirmed that he authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations aimed at destabilizing the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The president said officials were “looking at land” for possible further action, suggesting that additional measures could be considered beyond maritime operations.
Maduro publicly condemned Trump’s remarks, denouncing the authorization of covert activities as a threat to his nation’s sovereignty. Venezuela’s government indicated it would formally raise the issue at the United Nations Security Council, calling for international oversight and intervention.
“How long will CIA coups continue?” Maduro asked in a televised statement. “Latin America doesn’t want them, doesn’t need them and repudiates them. Not war — yes peace.”
Reporting by Straight Arrow News earlier this week highlighted statements from U.S. officials, who made it clear that their ultimate goal remains the removal of Maduro from power.
Trump said the administration continues to evaluate its next steps, while members of Congress requested additional briefings and documentation regarding U.S. activities in the region. Lawmakers expressed concern that expanding military or covert operations on to Venezuelan soil could increase the risk to civilians and raise significant questions about oversight and accountability.
The strikes and authorization of covert CIA operations reflect a broader escalation in U.S. engagement in both counter-narcotics efforts and political maneuvering in Latin America. The developments prompted renewed debate within Washington and among international observers regarding the implications for regional stability, civilian safety and U.S. foreign policy.
