U.S. President Donald Trump said on October 18 that the U.S. military had attacked a “drug submarine” in the Caribbean waters yesterday, killing two people, and two others were deported to their country of origin.
The United States 'recent military actions in the sea area have been strongly criticized by regional countries. Colombia condemned U.S. actions as violating its sovereignty; Venezuela said the U.S. military deployment was a "threat" and that it had completed a defense plan aimed at resisting the U.S. threat.
Trump: Destroying the submarine
Trump tweeted on social media on the evening of 18 that the U.S. military hit a “drug submarine” in the Caribbean waters yesterday, killing two of the four people on the submarine, two survivors were sent back to their country of origin, Ecuador and Colombia, respectively, for trial.
Trump said the “drug submarine” was traveling along a drug trafficking route to the United States, and the U.S. intelligence agency confirmed that the submarine was mainly carrying illegal narcotics. The post was also accompanied by a video of about 30 seconds.
This is the first survivor to appear in the U.S. since it claimed in the Caribbean waters in September this year to attack the so-called “drug ship.” Trump first confirmed the incident on 17 September, but did not confirm whether anyone survived the incident, nor did he provide any evidence of the so-called “drug submarine.”
Colombia: Violation of sovereignty
Colombian President Petro said on social media that the recent U.S. military operation "to combat drug trafficking" violated Colombia's sovereignty over its territorial seas and asked the U.S. side to explain the death of Colombian fishermen in the country's territorial waters.
On June 17, in the city of Faqataiva in the province of Queensland, Colombia, Colombian President Pedro delivered a speech at an event.
Petro said the fisherman killed was named Alejandro Carranza, who made a living by fishing and had no connection with drug trafficking. Petro said that the country's prosecutors had been asked to take immediate action on the matter to provide protection to the victims 'families and to file judicial proceedings with victims in other countries.
According to Colombia media reports on the 18th, Carranza's family said that one of the ships that had been attacked by US missiles in the Caribbean waters was flying the Colombia flag. The report said that the United States previously said the attack was aimed at a vessel related to drug trafficking, but investigations showed that the vessel was a handmade fishing boat and was in a mechanical failure state when it was attacked.
Venezuela: Defense Ready
Venezuelan President Maduro said on social media on Tuesday that the country’s defense plan aimed at defending against U.S. threats has now been completed. As part of the “Independent 200 Plan,” all of Venezuela’s integrated defense zones have been completed, aimed at carrying out 27 basic defense missions. In addition, 6.2 million citizens have joined the Bolivarian militia.
On September 15, Venezuelan President Maduro delivered a speech at a press conference in the capital Caracas. Published by Xinhua Agency
Maduro condemned the U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean as a “threat” aimed at pushing for a “regime change” and the seizure of resources such as oil.
In recent months, the United States has put pressure on Venezuela politically and militarily on the grounds of so-called "cracking down on Latin American drug cartels". Venezuela remains on high alert against the US pressing step by step.
Earlier this month, Venezuela held a national special military exercise to test the command and communication capabilities of the armed forces and militias.Maduro called on the people to join the militias and announced the launch of the "Independent 200 Plan" to organize the coordination of local armed forces and people's forces, protection of important facilities such as petrochemical, power telecommunications, ports, hospitals.
What are the intentions of the US side?
The U.S. has repeatedly stressed that increased military deployments in waters near Venezuela are aimed at “tracking drugs,” but U.S. Drug Enforcement’s recent reports show that Venezuela is not the main source of U.S. drugs. Multi-national media and analysts believe that the U.S. is named “tracking drugs” as the “show muscle” in the region, behind multiple strategic intentions.
On September 23, in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, members of the militia waved the Venezuelan flag to participate in a march. Published by Xinhua Agency (Photo by Marcos Salgado)
First, attempts to create chaos in Venezuela.The French Figaro article says that the U.S. military force deployed in the waters near Venezuela far exceeds the need for drug-trafficking, for the real purpose or to push for a regime change.
Second, at the regional level, the United States intends to put pressure on the Commission to deter other Latin American countries.Professor of the Academy of Social Sciences of the University of Caravaggio, Venezuela, Luis Delgado pointed out that Venezuela is located on the southern coast of the Caribbean Sea, bordering with Colombia, Brazil and other countries, and the geographical importance is highlighted, and the United States attempts to deter other regional countries by putting pressure on the Commission, making them compromise with the United States on economic trade, shipping and other issues.
Other analysts pointed out that the military pressure of the Trump administration was a “political show” aimed at gaining political gain. The Guardian recently published an editorial pointed out that the Trump administration’s actions in the Caribbean are aimed at showing a strong image and consolidating its voters’ “basic disc.” (reporter: Liu Xiao, Liu Xiao, Liu Xiao, Tian Xiao; video: Yuan Xiao)