UN Human Rights Chief Condemns US Military Strikes on Alleged Drug Boats

Sat Nov 01 2025 07:43:39 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Volker Türk criticizes recent US military operations targeting vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, asserting they violate international law and constitute extrajudicial killings.

The United Nations Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, has spoken out against recent US military strikes on boats allegedly trafficking drugs, stating these actions violate international law and amount to extrajudicial killings. The strikes have reportedly resulted in over 60 deaths since September 2025, with calls for immediate cessation and independent investigations into the incidents. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defends these strikes as necessary measures against terrorist organizations, but Türk emphasizes that such lethal force can only be justified in imminent threat situations, which he claims is not applicable in these cases.

The UN's human rights chief has condemned US military strikes on vessels allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean and Pacific, saying the lethal attacks violate international law and amount to extrajudicial killing.

Volker Türk stated that more than 60 people have reportedly been killed in US strikes since early September. He described the attacks as unacceptable and called for an immediate halt to the operations, alongside prompt, independent, and transparent investigations.

President Donald Trump has justified the strikes as necessary to curb the influx of drugs into the US, asserting that he has the requisite legal authority to carry out these operations in international waters.

Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth characterized the strikes as targeting vessels affiliated with drug-trafficking groups condemned as terrorist organizations by the US. He argued that the Western Hemisphere is no longer a safe haven for narco-terrorists bringing drugs to our shores to poison Americans.

Türk acknowledged the difficulties in combating drug trafficking but insisted that the circumstances surrounding the strikes lack justification under international law. He stressed that countering illicit drug trafficking is fundamentally a law-enforcement issue, governed by the strict limitations of lethal force set out in international human rights law.

According to him, such force is only permissible in situations presenting an imminent threat to life, a condition he claims was not met in the cases of those targeted by US strikes.

He urged the US to adopt law enforcement strategies, including intercepting boats, detaining suspects, and prosecuting individuals when necessary.

Moreover, the strikes have heightened tensions with Caribbean nations and sparked key discussions within the US Congress regarding presidential authority for such military actions.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has expressed her government’s disapproval of these strikes, demanding respect for international treaties whilst seeking meetings with US officials over the matter. As concerns about legality and diplomatic relations escalate in the region, the situation remains under critical scrutiny.