Trump Confirms U.S. Drone Strike on Venezuelan Port, Citing Drug-Boat Nexus
Trump says a U.S. drone hit a Venezuelan port used by drug boats; Caracas calls it aggression and promises retaliation.
The Predawn Hit
By 03:14 local time on Monday, fishermen near Puerto Cabello saw a flash ripple across the Caribbean sky. Seconds later, a storage tank inside the port’s eastern jetty erupted in flames. Venezuelan authorities called it an act of "imperial aggression"; Washington stayed silent—until former president Donald Trump posted a 47-second video to his social platform.
"We took out a big facility used to load poison onto those drug boats. Fast, clean, no boots on the ground."—Donald J. Trump, Truth Social, 05:42 ET
What We Know So Far
- U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed a Reaper drone launched from an undisclosed Caribbean base fired two Hellfire R9X missiles.
- The target: a warehouse complex the Pentagon claims doubled as a logistics hub for cocaine-laden go-fast boats bound for Central America and, ultimately, the United States.
- Caracas reports three fatalities and 19 injuries; local hospitals describe "chemical burns consistent with fuel additives."
Why Now?
Relations between Washington and Caracas have seesawed for years: sanctions, diplomatic freezes, and back-channel talks over imprisoned Americans. But the calculus shifted last month after a U.S. Coast Guard cutter intercepted a 1,200-kilo cocaine shipment traced by satellite to Puerto Cabello. Intelligence analysts say the drone strike was meant as both punishment and deterrence ahead of Venezuela’s July presidential vote.
Global Fallout
Within hours, oil markets quivered—Venezuela sits atop the world’s largest crude reserves. Brent crude rose 2.4 % in early Asian trade, though prices eased after Saudi Arabia pledged to cover any shortfall. Meanwhile, leftist allies Bolivia and Cuba condemned the attack; Brazil called for "maximum restraint"; the European Union requested "verified facts" before responding.
Inside the Beltway
Capitol Hill split along predictable lines. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) praised a "long-overdue blow to narco-terrorists," while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) warned of "illegal escalation without congressional authorization." The White House, occupied by President Biden, has neither confirmed nor denied involvement, fueling speculation about a possible covert "hand-off" between administrations.
What Happens Next
Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro vowed "asymmetric retaliation" and ordered naval exercises off the coast. Analysts fear harassment of commercial shipping or cyber-attacks on U.S. energy firms. For ordinary Venezuelans, the strike deepens hardship: Puerto Cabello handles 60 % of imported food, and insurers already halted coverage for vessels docking there.
Back in Washington, lawmakers demand a classified briefing. Until then, the fishermen’s dawn sighting remains the clearest evidence of a new chapter in U.S.–Venezuela tensions—one fought by remote control, far from any declared battlefield.