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US strikes on alleged drug boats violate law, UN human rights chief says

October 31, 2025

The UN human rights chief Volker Türk has strongly criticized US military operations targeting suspected drug-trafficking vessels in Caribbean and Pacific waters, characterizing them as violations of international law. Since early September, these strikes have reportedly resulted in more than 60 deaths, with US officials justifying the actions as necessary counternarcotics measures against designated terrorist organizations. The Trump administration maintains it has legal authority for these operations in international waters, though regional leaders, congressional members from both parties, and international law experts have challenged this claim.

Who is affected

  • More than 60 people killed in US strikes since early September
  • Individuals aboard vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific waters (at least 18 killed in Pacific strikes this week)
  • Drug-trafficking organization members designated as terrorists by the US
  • UN human rights chief Volker Türk
  • President Donald Trump and US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth
  • Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and her government
  • Colombian President Gustavo Petro (facing US sanctions)
  • Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Venezuela's attorney general
  • Members of US Congress (both Democrats and Republicans)
  • Regional governments in Latin America and the Caribbean

What action is being taken

  • US military forces are conducting strikes on vessels allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean and Pacific
  • The US has deployed troops, aircraft, and naval vessels to the Caribbean
  • The USS Gerald R Ford warship has been ordered to the area
  • The US has placed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro
  • Mexican government is calling for meetings with the US ambassador

Why it matters

  • This situation matters because it represents a fundamental clash between the US approach to drug interdiction and established international law governing the use of lethal force. The UN's position that drug trafficking is a law enforcement matter requiring adherence to human rights standards directly contradicts the US military strategy of treating these operations as counterterrorism missions. The strikes have resulted in significant loss of life and are destabilizing diplomatic relationships throughout the Western Hemisphere, potentially undermining broader regional cooperation on security issues. Additionally, the controversy raises critical questions about presidential authority and whether such military actions can be conducted without congressional approval, touching on fundamental constitutional issues within the United States itself.

What's next

  • UN human rights chief is calling on the US to halt strikes immediately
  • UN is demanding prompt, independent, and transparent investigations into the strikes
  • UN is calling on the US to use law enforcement methods including intercepting boats, detaining suspects, and prosecuting individuals
  • Mexican government is seeking meetings with the US ambassador to insist that international treaties be respected

Read full article from source: BBC