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Sen. Mullin Defends U.S. Maritime Strikes on Alleged 'Narco‑Terrorists': "Why Do We Care?"

Sen. Markwayne Mullin defended recent U.S. maritime strikes on vessels accused of drug trafficking, arguing legal concerns are secondary when targets threaten American lives. Reports indicate a Sept. 2 strike off Venezuela killed remaining people aboard an alleged drug boat, and subsequent operations have reportedly resulted in more than 80 deaths. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strikes complied with U.S. and international law, while the administration frames the actions as pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and warns of imminent land operations.

02:35 AM, 12/01/2025Security

Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R‑Okla.) defended a recent string of U.S. maritime strikes against vessels accused of drug trafficking, dismissing questions about the legal implications when the targets are described as threats to American lives.

What Mullin said

“These individuals don’t care about the lives of our friends and families,” Mullin said in an interview. “Why do we care if we take them out in international water?”

Recent strikes and casualties

According to reports, U.S. forces carried out a follow‑up strike on an alleged drug‑trafficking vessel off the coast of Venezuela on Sept. 2, killing the remaining people on board. Officials say that, since that action, the administration has authorized a series of strikes against vessels accused of transporting narcotics in international waters, operations that have resulted in the deaths of more than 80 people.

Official justification and legal framing

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on the social platform X that the strikes were “lawful under both U.S. and international law,” adding that the actions were vetted and approved by military and civilian lawyers throughout the chain of command and were conducted in compliance with the law of armed conflict.

Broader policy context

Administration officials describe the operations as part of a pressure campaign aimed at Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom some in the administration have called an “illegitimate leader” and accused of presiding over networks that traffic drugs into the United States. President Trump has also told military audiences the U.S. will act “very soon” against alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers on land, signaling a possible expansion of operations beyond maritime strikes.

Political reaction and legal questions

Supporters argue the actions are a necessary, proactive defense measure against networks that endanger Americans. Critics and some legal observers have raised questions about jurisdiction, the standards of evidence used to identify targets, and the long‑term diplomatic and legal implications of striking vessels in international waters. The debate highlights the tension between rapid counter‑drug action and the need for transparent legal justification when lethal force is used abroad.

Sen. Mullin, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the administration and Defense Department officials are doing “exactly what we should be doing” to confront perceived threats.

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