U.S. escalates maritime strikes against suspected drug traffickers amid rising tensions with Venezuela The Trump administration escalated its counter-narcotics operations in Latin America, launching lethal maritime strikes and deploying a large naval fleet near Venezuela, prompting accusations of militarization. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth defended the strikes as necessary for U.S. security, but critics questioned the legality and evidence linking Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to drug cartels. Declassified intelligence and statements from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum challenged Washington’s claims, revealing no direct evidence of Maduro’s control over trafficking networks. The operations sparked congressional backlash over war-powers limits, with narrowly defeated resolutions seeking…