On September 2, 2025, the US carried out its first-ever military strike on a Venezuelan drug cartel vessel in the Caribbean Sea, eliminating 11 members of the RND Ragua group. The operation occurred amid the largest US naval deployment in the Caribbean in decades.
US Defense Secretary Pat Hexat warned of further strikes against drug traffickers, signaling a shift from traditional law enforcement to direct military action. Over 4,500 US troops and a fleet of warships, as well as advanced aircraft and drones, were involved. The operation led to a record $473 million worth of narcotics seized.
In response, Venezuela mobilized 15,000 security personnel and police nationwide. President Nicolás Maduro described the US actions as a threat and declared mass mobilization.
US targets include the Cartel de los Soles, linked to Venezuelan military elites and President Maduro himself, with a $100 million bounty offered for information on him.
International reaction is divided: China condemned the US actions, left-leaning regional governments accused Washington of violating international law, while some neighbors backed the operation.
Analysts note that military strikes could set a precedent in the drug war but also increase regional risks. The US operation appears as an attempt to pressure the Maduro regime and potentially accelerate regime change in Venezuela.
