Dear John,
Last week's lethal U.S. military strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug vessel marks a sharp escalation in the already long and bloody U.S. “war on drugs.” Rather than interdict the boat, as Secretary of State Rubio acknowledged could have been done, President Trump ordered the boat destroyed, resulting in the deaths of the 11 people reportedly on board.
As further details emerge about this incident, it becomes increasingly clear that U.S. forces, on the President’s orders, carried out an extrajudicial killing—indeed a summary execution at sea.
The administration’s attempts to offer legal justifications for the strike have been incoherent and entirely unpersuasive. What’s more, Trump, Rubio and Defense Secretary Hegseth have made clear they consider last week’s strike as just the opening salvo. This drug war escalation should concern anyone committed to the rule of law and human rights in our hemisphere.
Over the past week, I've been working to provide clarity on these developments through media interviews with outlets including NPR, The Dispatch, and Latin Times, explaining why this strike represents such a dangerous departure from U.S. and international norms on the use of lethal force. As someone who has monitored U.S. drug policy in the Americas for over two decades at WOLA, I can say with confidence and alarm that further militarizing the drug war will mean even more bloodshed and no reduction in the flow of drugs or the power of organized crime.
This is not just about one incident—it's a warning of what may be to come. The Trump administration’s eagerness to use lethal military force without proper legal authorization or oversight threatens to undermine the very foundations of international law and human rights that WOLA has spent decades working to strengthen.
In moments like these, WOLA's mission becomes more critical than ever. Our role in providing rigorous analysis and much-needed clarity around these complex issues, drawing on our decades of experience monitoring U.S. policy in Latin America, helps ensure that the voices of those most affected by these decisions are heard in Washington's corridors of power.
The work ahead of us is challenging, but it is essential. Thank you for your continued support as we navigate these difficult times together.
Sincerely,
