U.S. forces targeted another ship allegedly transporting illegal drugs off the coast of Venezuela on Saturday evening, President Trump stated on Sunday, adding that the U.S. intends to investigate drug trafficking occurring on land as well.
Trump mentioned this during a speech at Naval Station Norfolk, near the Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. It wasn’t immediately evident if he was referring to an operation disclosed on Friday by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
That strike, at least the fourth such attack in recent weeks, killed four people.
“In recent weeks, the Navy has supported our mission to blow the cartel terrorists out of the water … we hit another one last night. Now we just can’t find any,” Trump remarked.
“They’re not coming in by sea anymore, so now we’ll have to start looking about the land because they’ll be forced to go by land.”
Venezuela’s communications ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but President Nicolas Maduro released a video message on Telegram soon after Trump’s announcement, where he criticized U.S. actions against Venezuela.
“Our people have never and will never be afraid to defend their right to live and be free,” Maduro declared, without directly addressing Trump’s latest remarks. “We will be prepared for any scenario.”
Earlier on Sunday, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil indicated that his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov conveyed “full expression of support and solidarity” to Caracas during a phone conversation between them.
On Saturday, Gil said Maduro had sent a letter to Pope Leo XIV in which he asked for his support to “consolidate peace in Venezuela.”
Hegseth told Fox News in an interview broadcast on Sunday he has every authorization needed for the Caribbean strikes.
