UN Condemns US Strikes on Drug Boats as Violations of International Law

Fri Oct 31 2025 23:39:21 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expresses grave concerns over US military actions against drug traffickers, labeling them 'extrajudicial killings.'

Volker Türk, the UN human rights chief, criticized the US military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, noting that over 60 fatalities have been reported since early September. He emphasized that these actions, aimed at curbing drug trafficking, contravene international law and should stop immediately. The US government, led by President Trump, defends these strikes as necessary for national security.

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 said on Friday that more than 60 people have reportedly been killed in US strikes since early September.

Calling the attacks 'unacceptable', he stated that Washington must halt them immediately and conduct prompt, independent and transparent investigations.

The US has been defending its actions. President Donald Trump claims the strikes are necessary to stem the flow of drugs into the US and insists he has the legal authority to continue bombing boats in international waters.

Türk, while acknowledging the challenges of tackling drug trafficking, stated that the circumstances for the deadly strikes 'find no justification in international law'.

'Countering the serious issue of illicit trafficking of drugs across international borders is a law-enforcement matter, governed by the careful limits on lethal force set out in international human rights law.'

According to international law, the intentional use of lethal force 'is only permissible as a last resort against individuals who pose an imminent threat to life'. Türk noted that based on sparse information provided publicly by US authorities, none of the individuals on the targeted boats appeared to pose such a threat.

He called on the US to use law enforcement methods such as intercepting boats and detaining suspects instead of strikes.

Most strikes have taken place off the coast of South America. The US has deployed troops and naval vessels in the area, drawing condemnation in the region and raising legal questions about their legitimacy. Even members of Congress have expressed concern over the president's authority to order them.

In response, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has asserted that her government does not agree with these attacks and called for adherence to international treaties.

The strikes have intensified tensions between the US and governments in Colombia and Venezuela, highlighting the complex dynamics of drug trafficking and international relations in the region.