The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the United States escalated covert operations in Latin America, adding that the U.S. Navy destroyed six alleged drug-running vessels in the Caribbean and the CIA was authorized for secret missions in Venezuela.
"Washington’s actions raise ever more questions. If the US wants a war on drugs – Manhattan would be a good place to start," the ministry wrote on X on Thursday morning.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment.
Why It Matters
The U.S. military's campaign of strikes against alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific has ignited intense international backlash, including public ridicule and condemnation from Russian officials on Thursday morning. The operations mark one of the largest American military deployments to the region since the 1960s and have exacerbated diplomatic tensions with Venezuela, raised legal questions about the use of force, and drawn the attention of global powers wary of U.S. actions near their allies.
What To Know
In August 2025, President Donald Trump initiated a major naval deployment in the southern Caribbean to combat what the administration termed "narcoterrorism" linked to Latin American drug cartels. By executive order, groups such as Venezuela's Tren de Aragua were designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, laying a foundation for military action.
Strikes began on September 2 with the destruction of a vessel tied to Venezuelan gang activity. By late October, at least nine U.S. strikes had killed upward of 37 people on suspected drug-running boats in the Caribbean and Pacific.
The Trump administration has cited national security and the fight against the opioid crisis as justification for the campaign, claiming the vessels were transporting drugs destined for U.S. shores. However, no public evidence has been presented to support these claims. The operation, which includes the authorization of CIA covert actions in Venezuela, has drawn fierce criticism from Venezuela, whose leader, Nicolás Maduro, accuses the U.S. of extrajudicial killings and plotting regime change.
On several occasions, the Pentagon and U.S. officials have defended the strikes as acts of self-defense; however, human rights experts and the United Nations have labeled them violations of international law. Democratic lawmakers in Congress have raised alarms over the lack of authorization and concrete evidence for these actions.
What People Are Saying
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, per Reuters: "Sergei Lavrov said that Russia strongly condemns the new strike by the U.S. armed forces on October 3 on a ship in international waters near Venezuela."
Pete Hegseth told Fox & Friends in September: "President Trump is willing to go on offense in ways that others have not been…We've got incredible assets, and they are gathering in the region."
What Happens Next
The U.S. has indicated that its anti-drug boat strikes may expand geographically and operationally; President Trump has suggested he may seek congressional authorization if operations move from sea to land. Meanwhile, Russia and Venezuela continue to call for international intervention and scrutiny of U.S. actions.
Update 10/23/25, 9:22 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
