US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has refused to criticize the controversial attack on suspected drug traffickers.
Published November 13, 2025
The administration of US President Donald Trump has drafted a legal opinion stating that US military personnel involved in military attacks off the coast of Central and South America will not be prosecuted, the Washington Post and Reuters reported.
The same outlet reported on Wednesday, citing multiple sources, that the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel has submitted an opinion to the White House regarding the issue of criminal liability for attacks on ships in the Caribbean.
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The strike against suspected drug traffickers has come under intense scrutiny from Democrats, legal experts and even some Republicans since it began in September.
The U.S. military has conducted at least 19 airstrikes on ships believed to be transporting drugs in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean, killing at least 76 people.
The White House said the strikes were part of a “non-international armed conflict” against “narco-terrorists” and “illegal combatants” linked to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
The Trump administration has not released any evidence that the boat was carrying drugs.
The administration of former U.S. President George W. Bush coined the term “illegal combatant” to deny some adversaries U.S. protections under the Geneva Conventions.
Although the term is not mentioned in the treaty, it is controversial in international law and rejected by many human rights defenders and legal experts.
“The Maduro regime is a narco-terror regime that has been indicted in the Southern District of the United States for narco-terrorism charges, but more importantly it is also a transshipment organization that allows these groups to operate from its own territory.” — @SecRubio pic.twitter.com/RP9sVJcbZk
— Department of State (@StateDept) November 13, 2025
The US government’s actions have displeased even some of its closest allies.
On Tuesday, CNN reported that London and Washington otherwise have deep intelligence and defense ties, but Britain has stopped sharing information with the United States about its drug-trafficking activities.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrault attended the G7 ministerial meeting in Canada on the same day and said the airstrike was a violation of international law.
According to Reuters, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed the criticism by telling reporters that none of the G7 members raised the issue during the two-day summit.
“I don’t think the European Union can decide what international law is,” Rubio told reporters Wednesday from a U.S. air base.
“They certainly cannot decide how the United States protects its national security.”
Rubio also denied CNN’s report.
“There are no changes or events that would disrupt our operations in any way,” Rubio said.
“And we’re not asking anyone to help us with what we’re doing.”
