Former U.S. National Security Council Western Hemisphere Director Juan González expressed serious doubts about the alleged U.S. attack on a Venezuelan ship accused of drug trafficking.He noted that the information disseminated by the Trump administration could be false, but warned that even if it were true, the action would be illegal under both U.S. and international law.“The government assumes the authority to sink any vessel it deems linked to drug trafficking. It's a slippery slope. Without controls, the United States runs the risk of killing fishermen, migrants, or other civilians… and we would have to take the government's word for it,” González said, highlighting the dangers of a policy that operates outside of legal frameworks.The former Biden official recalled that the Rules of Engagement exist to reduce civilian casualties and that "destroying a vessel at sea without boarding or inspecting it opens the door to tragedy." He insisted that the Coast Guard, not the Navy, is the institution trained and legally authorized to carry out counter-narcotics operations.González explained that standard protocols include intercepting with air support, disabling the aircraft when necessary, arresting the crew, and using the information gathered to dismantle larger networks. However, he denounced the White House's opting for media operations that fail to address the roots of the illicit business and generate more propaganda than results."So the U.S. government is using false information to justify a terrorist designation and then spending at least $7 million a day to have an aircraft carrier strike group kill 11 traffickers on a ship with a maximum capacity of three tons?" he asked.







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