Caribbean’s in chaos: US strikes suspected drug boats, Hurricane Melissa wrecks islands, and tensions spike with Venezuela. Region on edge.
The US Southern Command conducted three military strikes in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean, killing 11 individuals suspected of drug trafficking. The campaign, initiated in September 2025, has resulted in at least 144 deaths amid widespread legal and human rights criticism over its legality and transparency.
Residents of Pilgrims Way remain without stable power due to a fault in an underground transformer. Repairs are delayed by an access dispute over land rights, leaving residents dependent on a generator for months. UK Power Networks has yet to provide a clear timetable for permanent repair.
The US has resumed diplomatic talks with Venezuela following the January military operation that ousted Maduro. Venezuela’s government has announced reforms, including amnesty laws, and opposition leader María Corina Machado plans to return ahead of upcoming elections. Meanwhile, Cuba faces worsening energy shortages due to US sanctions and Venezuela’s oil disruptions.
The US military conducted a strike on a vessel suspected of drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific, killing at least 163 people since September 2025. The operation, justified as targeting narco-traffickers, faces legal and ethical scrutiny due to lack of evidence and concerns over extrajudicial killings.
Since early September, the US has been targeting vessels in Latin American waters suspected of drug trafficking, resulting in at least 186 deaths. The military has not provided evidence that the vessels carried drugs. The campaign is ongoing, with recent strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, justified by US officials as necessary to combat drug flows into the US.