The US has been attacking ships in the Caribbean suspected of carrying drugs for weeks. Therefore, EU representatives accused Washington of violating international law. US Secretary of State Rubio has now clearly rejected the criticism.
The US has defended its controversial military offensive in the Caribbean against criticism from European partners. At the G7 meeting in Canada, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio firmly rejected these objections. “The European Union does not define what international law is,” Rubio said. “This certainly does not determine how the United States maintains its national security.”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot previously described the attack as a violation of international law. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also said such attacks could only be justified in self-defense or based on UN Security Council resolutions.
At least 19 attacks on ships
The US military says it has so far carried out at least 19 attacks on suspected drug vessels, killing at least 76 people. The US government exercises the right to self-defense. However, independent UN experts described the action as a possible violation of maritime law and cited extrajudicial executions.
In response to the attack, Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered his country’s security forces to suspend cooperation with US intelligence agencies. Rubio defended attacks on so-called narcoterrorists and rejected a CNN report that Britain had also stopped sharing intelligence.
In fact, Ukraine and Gaza are the focus of the G7
The G7 foreign ministers’ meeting actually focused mainly on the war in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha appealed to his colleagues to provide long-range missiles and support for his country’s energy sector. In their final declaration, the ministers emphasized their desire to increase the economic impact for Russia. However, the controversial US military strike was not mentioned in the paper.
