The recent US military strike on an alleged drug vessel in the southern Caribbean has ignited a heated debate over the true intentions behind the US military deployment in the region. On November 1, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the strike, which resulted in the deaths of three individuals described as ‘narco terrorists.’ The operation, conducted in international waters, is part of a series of 15 such strikes since early September, claiming a total of 64 lives. While the US maintains that these actions are aimed at curbing drug trafficking, local and international voices question whether this is a prelude to a larger military operation targeting Venezuela. Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has publicly supported the US stance, contrasting with other Caribbean leaders who advocate for the region to remain a ‘zone of peace.’ Critics, including former officials and international relations experts, argue that these strikes bypass due process and violate international law, raising concerns about extrajudicial killings and the potential for escalating tensions in the region. The situation has also sparked fears of a proxy war involving global powers, with Venezuela at the center of the geopolitical chessboard.