After a U.S. drone strike destroyed a suspected drug vessel labeled as ELN-operated, the Colombian guerrilla group denied all involvement in narcotrafficking, accusing Washington of fabricating evidence amid escalating regional tensions.

Trump’s confirmation of CIA covert operations in Venezuela, combined with lethal maritime strikes and B-52 shows of force, signals a sharp escalation in a counter-drug campaign with significant legal, diplomatic, and escalation risks.

A U.S. military strike on a Venezuelan drug vessel marks a dangerous escalation in an unfolding regional crisis, as Venezuela, backed by Russia and China, emerges as a narco-authoritarian threat to U.S. security.