The co-chairs of the Caribbean Caucus in the United States House of Representatives have issued a stern condemnation of what they label as illegal and unilateral military airstrikes ordered by the Trump administration in the Caribbean and Pacific regions. Congresswomen Yvette Clarke, who also leads the Congressional Black Caucus, and Maxine Waters jointly expressed their concerns in a statement released on Friday. They criticized the administration for employing a ‘kill first, ask questions never’ strategy, arguing that such actions violate international law, strain relations with Caribbean nations, and endanger civilian lives. The lawmakers demanded an immediate cessation of the strikes and greater transparency regarding the operations. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, also voiced his disapproval, emphasizing that the airstrikes breach international human rights law. Türk reported that over 60 individuals have allegedly been killed since early September and urged the US to halt these ‘unacceptable’ operations to prevent further ‘extrajudicial killings.’ While the Trump administration has justified the strikes as part of counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism efforts, Türk dismissed this rationale, stating that drug enforcement must adhere to strict limits on the use of lethal force. He called for independent investigations into the reported incidents. Amnesty International has separately labeled the strikes as ‘murder’ and urged the US Congress to intervene and stop the operations. The human rights organization noted that US officials have confirmed 13 strikes—eight in the Caribbean and five in the Pacific—and argued that the US is not engaged in any armed conflict in the region that would legally justify such military actions. Amnesty officials also pointed out that the administration has failed to provide evidence that the targeted individuals posed imminent threats or that the vessels could not have been intercepted and boarded.
Congressional Caribbean Caucus condemns Trump’s illegal military strikes in the Caribbean
