WASHINGTON, D.C. – The White House on Wednesday defended a U.S. โคmilitary strike against a Venezuelan vessel after the U.S. Southern command (SOUTHCOM) persistent it was attempting to interdict a U.S. Coast Guard cutter,calling the action lawful and necessary.The incident, which occurred in international waters, has escalated tensions between Washington and Caracas.
The U.S.โ Coast Guard cutter Stone was โขconducting routineโฃ maritime operations when approached by โa Venezuelan patrol vessel, according to SOUTHCOM. The Venezuelan vessel “maneuvered dangerously close” and “failed to heed warnings,” prompting the U.S. to disable the Venezuelan boat with a warning shot.No injuries โwere reported. โฃWhiteโ House National Security council spokesperson John Kirby stated the U.S. acted within its rights to defend its vessels and personnel. “We โฃhave every right to defend our military assets and our personnel,” Kirby said during a press briefing. “That’s exactly what happened here.”
The incident underscoresโฃ ongoing concerns about Venezuelan military โactivity and its potential to disrupt regional stability. The U.S. has repeatedly โขaccused Venezuela‘s government, led by President โฃNicolรกs maduro, โof harboring illicit โขactors and โฃfacilitating drug trafficking. Relations between the twoโ countries have beenโค strained for years, with the U.S. imposing sanctions on Venezuelan officials โฃand entities.
Jeff Mason, a White House Correspondent for Reuters who has covered multiple presidencies, noted the incident occurred amidst a broader โขcontext of U.S. efforts to counter illegal activities in the Caribbean Sea andโ maintain freedom of navigation. Mason, a former president of the White house Correspondents’ Association, has reported extensively on U.S.foreign policy and national security issues. He has previously covered interactions between โU.S. leaders andโ counterparts like Vladimir โขPutin and Kim Jong Un.
