Trump says US hit alleged fentanyl submarine in Caribbean
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US kills two in airstrike on a submarine in Latin American waters amid rising tensions with Venezuela.
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US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after arriving on Air Force One, Friday, October 17, 2025, at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
US President Donald Trump announced on the evening of October 18 that Washington launched another airstrike targeting what he called drug traffickers on a "well-known" trafficking route, this time targeting a submarine.
"It was my great honor to destroy a very large DRUG-CARRYING SUBMARINE that was navigating towards the United States on a well-known narcotrafficking transit route," the US president said in a Truth Social post. "US Intelligence confirmed this vessel was loaded up with mostly Fentanyl, and other illegal narcotics."
Trump added that on board the vessel were four "known narcoterrorists," but failed to mention the identities of the individuals, later adding that two of the four on board were killed in the attack.
"At least 25,000 Americans would die if I allowed this submarine to come ashore," The US president added. "The two surviving terrorists are being returned to their Countries of origin, Ecuador and Colombia, for detention and prosecution. No US Forces were harmed in this strike."
Trump later noted that under his term, "the United States of America will not tolerate narcoterrorists trafficking illegal drugs, by land or by sea."
Read more: US approves covert CIA action in Venezuela: Reports
Colombian president condemns US strikes in regional waters
Colombia's President Gustavo Petro, in a social media statement on Sunday, condemned Washington's aggressions in the region, stating that the US had killed a Colombian fisherman and violated the nation's sovereignty.
"The United States has invaded our national territory, fired a missile to kill a humble fisherman, and destroyed his family, his children," Petro's statement read. "This is Bolívar's homeland, and they are murdering his children with bombs."
Colombia's president added, "The United States has violated Colombian national territory and murdered an honest Colombian worker. Let the sword of Bolívar be raised!"
Por qué, me pregunto, un noticiero nacional no le importa que un misil estadounidense haya asesinado a un humilde pescador de Colombia en Santa Marta.
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) October 19, 2025
EEUU destruyó una familia de pescadores en la ciudad que hará la cumbre de América Latina y Europa.
EEUU, ha invadido el… https://t.co/2poEBQ123q
Read more: Colombia’s president hits back at Trump with reciprocal tariffs on US
Washington increases military presence in Latin American waters
Since September, the US has carried out six attacks of this sort in Latin American waters, targeting vessels it claims to be peddling drugs into the US without offering evidence to substantiate its claims. To date, the number of those killed in these strikes is at least 27.
These attacks are part of Washington's military buildup off the Venezuelan coast in line with increased tensions between the US President and Venezuelan head of state Nicolas Maduro.
The US has recently deployed a number of naval vessels off the Venezuelan coast under the guise of monitoring the region. These military assets include submarines, destroyers, and F‑35 fighters stationed near Puerto Rico.
Additional information shows the MV Ocean Trader, a vessel configured as a floating Special Operations base, as well as the C‑17 Globemaster aircraft operating near Trinidad and St. Croix.
Read more: Two Trinidadians killed in US strike off Venezuelan coast identified
In response to the provocations, Maduro ordered a large-scale military exercise, noting the presence of the army, police force, and civilian militia who would mobilize to defend the nation against foreign aggression.
Madoru emphasized the nation's goal towards peace, noting that Venezuela “will continue to earn peace by exercising its full sovereignty and defending its right to life and the joy of its people.”
Read more: Lula defends Venezuela, Cuba sovereignty against foreign meddling
Last week, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced his department is forming a joint task force to operate in the US Southern Command area of responsibility at Trump's request "to crush the cartels, stop the poison, and keep America safe."
