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 said Washington must halt them immediately and conduct prompt, independent and transparent investigations.
President Donald Trump has said the strikes are necessary to stem the flow of drugs into the US and he has the legal authority to continue bombing boats in international waters.
Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth has said strikes are being carried out on vessels operated by drug-trafficking groups designated as terrorist organisations by the US, emphasizing that the Western Hemisphere is no longer a safe haven for narco-terrorists bringing drugs to our shores to poison Americans.
Türk, while acknowledging the challenges in tackling drug trafficking, asserted that the circumstances for the deadly strikes find no justification in international law.
He continued, stating that countering the serious issue of illicit drug trafficking across international borders is a law-enforcement matter, governed by the careful limits on lethal force outlined in international human rights law.
Moreover, under law, the intended use of lethal force is only permissible as a last resort against individuals posing an imminent threat to life, and based on available information, none of the individuals on the targeted boats appeared to fit that criterion.
He urged the US to utilize law enforcement methods, such as intercepting boats and detaining suspects if necessary, followed by prosecution.
Most strikes have occurred off the Caribbean coast, although recent attacks in the Pacific reportedly killed at least 18 individuals.
The attacks have drawn condemnation throughout the region, with experts questioning their legality. Notably, both Democratic and Republican members of Congress have raised concerns about Trump’s authority to order these strikes.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated her government does not agree with these attacks and advocates for adherence to international treaties.
Tensions have escalated between the US and Colombian and Venezuelan governments, with the US accusing Colombian President Gustavo Petro of insufficient action against drug trafficking, and Maduro of leading a drug-trafficking organization, claims he has vehemently denied.
