The US attack on the Venezuelan boat on Tuesday came just a few days after news reports circulated about US warships advancing into Venezuelan waters. Last month, The New York Times reported that Trump had signed a secret directive instructing the Pentagon to use military force against certain Latin American drug cartels designated by the US as foreign terrorist organisations.
Under Joseph Humire's leadership, the Center for a Secure Free Society thinktank published the TdA Activity Monitor, which tracked supposed crimes by the Tren de Aragua gang in the US.