President Donald Trump has ordered a second military strike against a suspected Venezuelan drug trafficking vessel in international waters, escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela. The strike, conducted on September 15, 2025, resulted in the deaths of three people aboard the vessel and has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic Congressional leaders over the lack of proper authorization.
The military action follows a previous strike on September 2, 2025, which destroyed another Venezuelan vessel and killed 11 people. Trump announced the second strike through a video posted on his Truth Social account, showing the targeted vessel on fire following the U.S. attack. The strikes are part of what the administration describes as an aggressive strategy to combat drug trafficking from Venezuela to the United States.
Democratic leaders from key national security committees in Congress have strongly condemned the military action. Representatives Adam Smith, Jim Himes, Gregory Meeks, and Bennie Thompson released a joint statement criticizing Trump for failing to secure Congressional authorization for the use of force. They argued that the president has unilaterally decided to carry out lethal military strikes under the premise that small boats pose an emergency warranting military rather than law enforcement response.
The Congressional leaders expressed concerns that Trump’s expansion of presidential authority risks dragging the United States into another endless war. They noted that the administration has failed to state clear military objectives or provide explanation of how the use of military force could end. The lawmakers emphasized that while drug trafficking is a serious public health crisis, such missions should be led by law enforcement rather than military action.
Legal experts and maritime historians have raised questions about the international law implications of the strikes. The targeted vessels were operating in international waters, and the military action against suspected drug traffickers represents an expansion of drone strike tactics previously used on land to maritime operations. This marks a significant escalation in the use of military force for counter-narcotics operations.
The strikes have also raised concerns about potential civilian casualties and the targeting of non-combatants. Venezuela has accused the United States of illegally boarding fishing vessels and conducting unlawful military operations in international waters. The Venezuelan government has characterized the strikes as acts of aggression that violate international law and sovereignty principles.
The military buildup in the Caribbean has been ongoing, with increased U.S. naval presence off the Venezuelan coast. Many of the targeted vessels lack the range to reach the United States directly and typically transfer cargo to other vessels or meet with intermediary boats, suggesting the strikes target only a portion of the broader drug trafficking network operating from Venezuela.
The controversy highlights broader questions about presidential war powers and the constitutional requirement for Congressional authorization of military force. The lack of transparency and information sharing with Congress has been criticized as posing threats to democratic oversight of military operations. Congressional leaders have demanded immediate briefings on the legal basis for the strikes and details about the administration’s military strategy in the region.