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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that President Donald Trump is assembling “incredible assets” to strike drug cartels, particularly those in Venezuela. This came after Trump announced a military operation against a drug-carrying vessel in the southern Caribbean.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the ship was run by a “designated narco-terrorist organization.” The president later identified the vessel as operated by Tren de Aragua (TdA), and claimed 11 were killed. Hegseth said, “President Trump is willing to go on offense in ways others have not. We’re not going to allow this kind of activity.”
Hegseth added, “We’ve got incredible assets gathering in the region.” The defense secretary emphasized that the U.S. military aims to send a clear signal to TdA and Cartel del Sol.
The latest developments underscore the ongoing lack of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Venezuela. Trump administration officials seek to arrest President Nicolás Maduro over allegations he has ties with TdA.
Pete Hegseth confirmed that they knew exactly who was on the boat: members of Tren de Aragua. He placed blame for drug flow into the U.S. in recent years on the Biden administration, which he said had largely come from Central and Southern America.
Venezuelan officials counter with the idea that if the goal is to target the drug trade, then U.S. personnel should be sent to the Pacific Ocean instead of the Caribbean.
Some experts doubt TdA’s strength and influence, noting recent analysis by InSight Crime found weakened leadership in the gang.
Tuesday’s strike followed Washington’s decision to expand its naval presence off Venezuela to counter Latin American drug cartels. Trump claimed 11 people were killed, all identified as TdA members. Maduro ordered troops along the coast and urged civilians to join militia forces.
Experts suggest that Trump was likely seeking a show of force to pressure Maduro into taking tougher action against cartels.
This article was updated on September 3, 2025, at 11:03 a.m. ET with additional information.
