Military action against Venezuelan coastal vessels deemed necessary due to imminent danger from drug cartels, White House indicates, stating persistent strategy against organized crime.

In a move that has sparked regional tension, President Donald Trump justified a lethal military strike against a Venezuelan gang known as Tren de Aragua, stating it was necessary to send a message to Latin American cartels. The strike, which occurred in international waters, reportedly killed 11 individuals.

The U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth linked Tren de Aragua to deaths from overdoses in the U.S. and accused the gang of trying to "poison Americans." He justified the U.S. military strike against a boat carrying alleged Tren de Aragua members in Caribbean waters as a real operation against narcoterrorism, emphasizing the readiness to destroy narcotics traffickers connected to the Venezuelan government.

However, a declassified U.S. intelligence assessment contradicts Trump's claim that Tren de Aragua is operating under President Nicolás Maduro's control. InSight Crime, a research organization, found no direct participation of Tren de Aragua in the transnational drug trade.

The U.S. has a complicated legacy of intervening in Latin American affairs, particularly during the Cold War, which has led to destabilization and coups in several countries. This recent action by the U.S. has been met with criticism from some quarters, with Maduro's government deploying troops along Venezuela's coast and border with neighboring Colombia in response. Maduro's government has also urged Venezuelans to enlist in a civilian militia.

Ryan Berg, director of the Americas program at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, stated that Tuesday's strike demonstrates a shift in the U.S. approach to security in the region. He further added that this action could signal a more aggressive stance towards drug cartels in the future.

The U.S. has taken a more subtle approach in recent years, providing foreign assistance to many countries and security forces, but not making direct strikes like what was seen in Caribbean waters. However, the Trump administration has repeatedly blamed Tren de Aragua for being at the root of the violence and illicit drug dealing that plague some American cities.

The U.S. has declared Tren de Aragua and Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Mexican Secretary of Foreign Relations Juan Ramón de la Fuente on Wednesday. Rubio warned that similar operations "will happen again." He emphasized the importance of the Trump administration operating in the region without subordination and respecting the sovereignty of allies.

The U.S. has announced plans to boost its maritime force in the waters off Venezuela to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels. The regional implications of this move are unclear, but it is certain that the tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela will continue to escalate in the coming days.