In a significant escalation of tensions, the United States has launched a second military strike on a Venezuelan vessel, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. President Donald Trump confirmed the operation on Monday, stating that U.S. forces targeted “extraordinarily violent drug trafficking cartels and narcoterrorists” in international waters. According to Trump, the vessel was allegedly transporting narcotics destined for the United States. This latest strike follows a previous U.S. attack that killed 11 alleged smugglers, which had already drawn sharp criticism from regional leaders. Trump defended the action, emphasizing that these cartels pose a severe threat to U.S. national security, foreign policy, and vital interests. He also confirmed that no American forces were harmed in the operation. The incident has sparked widespread concern across the Caribbean and Latin America, with Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar being one of the few regional leaders to express support for Washington. In response to the escalating situation, CARICOM foreign ministers are expected to convene to discuss the matter and its implications for regional stability.