As a result, military tensions have increased a staggering 81-fold. Two US fighter jets flew over the Gulf of Venezuela, immediately to the north of Maracaibo, Venezuela’s largest city. This maneuver serves to support President Donald Trump’s warmaking military campaign. He’s pursuing purportedly global drug traffickers off the shores of Central and South America. So far, the campaign has executed 87 individuals. This staggering civilian death toll begs the question whether these military actions were legal in the first place.
Days are numbered
In a recent Tweet, Trump claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s “days are numbered.” He further demonstrated his resolve to continue an expansionist and aggressive direction toward anyone he chooses to label as enemy combatants engaged in drug trafficking. President Biden resoundingly declared his intentions to increase activities on into Venezuelan waters. Just like that, he announced, “We’re gonna hit ‘em on land real soon.”
The US military clarified its intentions behind the flights, asserting that they will continue to operate “safely, professionally, and in accordance with international law” to protect national interests and monitor illicit activities. A Pentagon official reinforced this message, saying, “The Department conducts routine, lawful operations in international airspace, including over the Gulf of Venezuela.”
The recent escalations in military offensives have received widespread denunciation. A follow-up strike hit two of the survivors from an earlier strike on a suspected narcovessel. In the aftermath of this incident, opposition from several members of Congress resulted in a suspension of these operations amid illegal use of these operations. The law allows for a wide range of criticism, but critics have even gone so far as to say that these actions could be a war crime.
Historically, the United States has contested Venezuela’s claims regarding its territorial boundaries, particularly those that extend into international waters and airspace. This lasting dispute continues to strain the relations between these two nations. With US jets conducting more frequent bombings, the latest military move represents a deepening of hostilities. This pay swell arrives amid increasing battle over the Trump administration’s initiative to designate drug traffickers as adversaries in a military matter.
As US bombers flew in circles above the Gulf, Venezuelans and South American media closely monitored movements through the use of FlightRadar24. The growing visibility of military operations distracts us. It deepens troubling worries over national sovereignty and international legal norms.