Overview
- President Trump said a U.S. military strike in international waters destroyed a boat he linked to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, killing 11 people, and he claimed to have recordings and visuals showing drugs on board.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the action as a precision strike and warned that similar operations will continue against designated narco‑terrorist targets.
- The White House and Pentagon have not released corroborating evidence or a detailed legal rationale, and members of Congress said they received little to no advance notice.
- Venezuelan officials challenged the authenticity of the released video and escalated rhetoric as the U.S. maintained a heightened naval presence in the southern Caribbean.
- In Mexico City, Rubio praised cooperation and discussed deeper security coordination as President Claudia Sheinbaum reiterated that U.S. actions must respect Mexico’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.