As strikes on alleged drug boats grow, so do questions about their legality and goal

by The editor•24 October 2025•NPR

Speaking from the White House on Thursday, President Trump said he believes lawmakers will ultimately support U.S. efforts to strike alleged drug boats in the Caribbean Sea. But he said he did not think the administration would ask for a declaration of war.

President Trump says he has authority to carry out the strikes, but international experts are asking if the attacks are truly about countering narcotics or instead toppling Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro.

(Image credit: Alex Wong)