Vice President J.D. Vance Defends U.S. Military Strike on Drug Traffickers

Vice President J.D. Vance on Saturday defended a recent U.S. airstrike that killed 11 suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean, calling it a justified use of military force. The strike, authorized by President Donald Trump, targeted a boat linked to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang. Critics have raised concerns that the attack may constitute a war crime, but Vance dismissed such claims.

“Killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military,” Vance posted on X. In response to accusations from left-wing commentator Brian Krassenstein that the strike violated international law, Vance replied bluntly, “I don’t give a shit what you call it.”

The operation marks a significant escalation in U.S. counter-narcotics strategy, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warning that future strikes are likely. “Anyone else trafficking in those waters… will face the same fate,” Hegseth said during a Fox News interview, emphasizing that the military presence in the region would remain strong.

During the 2024 campaign, Vance had advocated for direct military action against drug cartels, citing the ongoing fentanyl epidemic that claims over 100,000 American lives annually. At a campaign rally, he stated, “I think we’ll send our troops in to do battle with the Mexican drug cartels,” signaling a more aggressive approach to drug interdiction.

In a further shift in defense policy, Trump informally rebranded the Pentagon as the “Department of War.” The move came amid rising tensions with Venezuela, following the approach of two Venezuelan fighter jets near a U.S. Navy destroyer. Trump warned that any aircraft threatening U.S. forces would be “shot down,” underscoring the administration’s hardline stance on national security.