Agência Brasil - EBC
A coalition of United States legislators has formally requested an immediate and transparent briefing from the White House regarding a classified naval operation in the Caribbean that has been flagged as a potential war crime. The urgent inquiry, signed by a group of progressive representatives, cites whistleblower reports suggesting that a U.S.-coordinated interception of a vessel bound for Venezuela resulted in unjustifiable civilian casualties. The lawmakers are expressing “grave concern” that the administration may have authorized aggressive rules of engagement that violate the Geneva Conventions and international maritime law.
The controversy centers on allegations that the operation involved private military contractors working alongside US forces to enforce a de facto blockade against Caracas. According to the letter sent to the Oval Office, the incident involved the use of lethal force against a non-combatant supply ship in international waters, an action that the signatories argue constitutes an act of war taken without Congressional approval. The document demands the release of operational logs and clarification on whether the chain of command bypassed standard military protocols to execute the strike.
The White House has faced increasing scrutiny over its aggressive posture in the Caribbean, but this is the first time sitting members of Congress have used the term “war crime” to describe the administration’s maneuvers. The lawmakers warn that outsourcing military objectives to private entities or conducting unprovoked attacks on commercial shipping erodes the United States’ moral standing and legal adherence. They have threatened to invoke the War Powers Resolution to force a cessation of hostilities if the executive branch fails to provide a satisfactory legal justification for the incident.
This domestic political pressure arrives at a precarious moment, coinciding with reports of heightened military readiness in Venezuela and rumors of imminent US action. International human rights organizations have amplified the lawmakers’ call, urging the UN to launch an independent investigation into the skirmish. Analysts suggest that if the allegations of attacking a civilian vessel are proven true, it could trigger a diplomatic firestorm, alienating US allies in the region and complicating any future “peace” plans the administration intends to propose.
Sources:
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/459201-democrats-demand-probe-caribbean-naval-incident-2025/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/02/us-venezuela-tensions-war-crime-allegations-caribbean-blockade/
