Since mid-September, the Trump administration has released videos of various airstrikes against vessels suspected of transporting drugs to the United States. This image from October 18 depicts a submarine, but the location remains undisclosed. According to official sources, one Colombian and one Ecuadorian citizen survived. Photo: Department of War.
Guacamaya, October 19, 2025. President Donald Trump’s administration has already confirmed at least seven attacks on vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking across Latin America. While it initially seemed to target the coasts of Venezuela, the military operation has also impacted Colombia, Ecuador, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The attacks are a result of a deployment ordered by President Trump in mid-August to utilize armed forces against drug cartels in the area. Several Navy and Air Force units have commenced operations, including eight warships, F-35 fighter jets, and B-52 bombers.
Al Jazeera has estimated the locations of at least four of the first five attacks, with three of them believed to have occurred off the Venezuelan coast.
It has become clear that the aim of this operation is to intimidate the Venezuelan government and military leadership to incite a regime change, as has been discussed in various U.S. media outlets quoting officials anonymously.
Although Trump has not explicitly stated his intent for regime change, on October 15, he claimed he had authorized the CIA to operate within Venezuela.
Conversely, the military actions in the Caribbean are serving as a basis for Trump’s stringent anti-immigration policies spearheaded by his advisor Stephen Miller. The advisor is currently attempting to persuade judges that the United States is under enemy attack, thereby justifying the use of the Alien Enemies Act.
Tensions Between Trump and Petro Escalate as First Victims Emerge
The naval deployment has opened a new front between Bogotá and Washington; on October 18, President Gustavo Petro stated that “Officials of the U.S. government have committed murder and violated our sovereignty in territorial waters” by bombing a boat he claimed was carrying a Colombian fisherman, Alejandro Carranza.
This and other accusations from Petro prompted Trump to condemn him as an “illegal drug leader” and declare the cessation of all aid payments to Colombia. Notably, in his Truth Social post, Trump incorrectly referred to “Columbia” when naming the South American country.
On the same day, it was reported that the Pentagon bombed a submarine utilized for drug trafficking. However, this time there were two survivors—one Colombian and one Ecuadorian. Both were returned to their home countries without prosecution in the U.S., implying a lack of sufficient evidence against them.
The Trump administration had already labeled Colombia as a country that “has failed demonstrably” in controlling drug trafficking as of September but without cutting aid funding.
In contrast to Bogotá, the Venezuelan government has largely refrained from commenting on the attacks on vessels in the Caribbean. It has not released the names of victims, who may number in the dozens. Meanwhile, it has condemned what it views as an attempt to force regime change in Venezuela over its oil reserves and other natural resources.
What Has the United States Deployed So Far?
The military deployment falls under the U.S. Southern Command, which oversees operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, excluding Mexico and Puerto Rico, and is based in Miami, Florida.
Open-source investigations confirm a significant presence of firepower among Navy and Air Force assets, though there is a scarcity of land-fighting units like infantry soldiers or armored vehicles.
The Roosevelt Roads Naval Base in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, has also been reopened after being closed for over two decades, suggesting that the military operation may not be short-lived.
🚨 POTUS notifies Congress: U.S. engaged in “noninternational armed conflict” with drug cartels, designates as “unlawful combatants” (NYT)
New SOUTHCOM map and update:
– U.S. Special Operations mothership MV Ocean Trader confirmed in theater, spotted off St. Croix
– USS Truxton… pic.twitter.com/mB8hDLMgUJ
— Ian Ellis (@ianellisjones) October 3, 2025
The Navy has deployed at least eight warships, including four guided-missile destroyers and a nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Newport News. These assets can carry numerous long-range Tomahawk missiles.
They are accompanied by the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, consisting of 2,200 personnel, transported by the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, including the multipurpose Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, capable of accommodating up to 30 helicopters. The Navy’s operational assets in the Caribbean also include aircraft like 10 F-35B fighter jets. Interestingly, the deployment includes two P-8 Poseidon aircraft, specialized in anti-submarine warfare, even though Venezuela does not operate any active submarines.
The Air Force has also deployed aircraft and drones, such as the C-17 Globemaster for cargo and personnel transport, and the MQ-9 Reaper, outfitted with Hellfire missiles. Three B-52 bombers have also been deployed for show-of-force missions near Venezuelan airspace.
Additionally, movements from special operations forces have been reported, possibly operating on the MV Ocean Trader ship or helicopters near Trinidad and Tobago. According to open-source investigations, P-8 Poseidon and C-17 Globemaster aircraft have been seen arriving on the island.
For the United States, it has often sought allied nations to help with military operations abroad. Even with the most formidable armed forces in the world, forming a coalition provides legitimacy, allowing it to assert that it is engaged in necessary multilateral actions rather than unilateral aggression.
Historically, during the Korean War, Western nations intervened under the United Nations’ banner. In 2003, despite not being able to use the UN’s name, George W. Bush formed the “Coalition of the Willing.” There are other examples too, such as the 1965 occupation of the Dominican Republic, where Washington created the Inter-American Peace Force involving small contingents from Brazil, Paraguay, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Honduras.
A report from La Política Online discussed that Trump had requested participation from Argentina, Ecuador, and El Salvador. However, sources in the Argentine military indicated they would not have the capacity, meaning their support would be largely symbolic.