Name: U.S. war on drugs: Senate republicans block move to stop boat attacks
Uploaded: 2025-11-07T08:44:14.203Z
Duration: 2 min 21 s
Description: The U.S. Senate narrowly voted 51-49 to block a resolution that sought to prevent President Donald Trump from launching strikes on Venezuela without congressional approval. The measure, led by Senators Tim Kaine, Adam Schiff, and Rand Paul, followed reports that U.S. forces have carried out at least 16 strikes on boats off Venezuela since September, killing more than 65 people.

The U.S. Senate narrowly voted 51-49 to block a resolution that sought to prevent President Donald Trump from launching strikes on Venezuela without congressional approval. The measure, led by Senators Tim Kaine, Adam Schiff, and Rand Paul, followed reports that U.S. forces have carried out at least 16 strikes on boats off Venezuela since September, killing more than 65 people.

Washington County

Recent weeks have seen an increase in US military action against alleged drug smuggling boats off the Venezuelan coast, with the government claiming successes but providing little evidence. Senators from both parties have raised concerns about the legality of these attacks and called for the president to seek congressional approval before escalating further.

Despite these concerns, a largely symbolic Senate vote means the Trump administration can continue its military operations and buildup in the Caribbean without additional congressional oversight. Critics argue that the justification for treating drug traffickers as enemy combatants lacks a solid basis in international law and blurs the distinction between civilians and combatants.

U.S. war on drugs: Senate republicans block move to stop boat attacks

The grainy images have become common in the last few weeks. A boat in the water off the Venezuelan coast, an explosive flash, and the US government claiming without presenting evidence another victory in the war against drug smugglers. Now US senators from both sides are worried about the legality of the attacks. They want the president to seek congressional approval for further action. Senator from Virginia? We shouldn't be at war without Congress. Even President Trump, by public reporting today, suggests that he may not yet think he has a legal rationale for a war against Venezuela. The American people are sick and tired of their elected representatives in Congress standing idly by and saying, nothing to see here. President can do whatever he wants, while their sons and daughters are sent to fight wars in distant lands. But some believe the president is doing what he needs to do. Narco-terrorism emanating from our backyard is not going to be tolerated any longer. There's a new game in town. You do this at your own risk. We'll see what happens with Venezuela. US President Donald Trump has ordered an increase in the military presence in the Caribbean, even moving a carrier group, several ships and a significant number of aircraft, from the Middle East. That's fuelled concern Trump is planning some sort of assault on the ground in Venezuela. If any other world leader moved this kind of firepower to another country's doorstep, we know what we would believe was taking place. And the bottom line is this. Americans do not want another war. The president says drug traffickers are waging war in America. That makes them enemy combatants. One expert says that's very thin justification. Enemy combatant is a category that was invented by the American government for its war on terror. And it's not really a thing. It has no history in international law, really. It's aimed to elide the distinction between civilian and combatant. In a war, you're allowed to kill combatants. That's the whole idea of a war. You're not allowed to kill civilians, or at least not intentionally. This vote was largely symbolic, but it does mean the Trump administration doesn't need to seek congressional approval to continue the attacks and the build up in the Caribbean. Alan Fisher, Al Jazeera, Washington.

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