Overview

• At an emergency meeting requested by Venezuela, U.S. envoy John Kelley defended recent strikes on four boats off Venezuela as lawful self-defense against violent drug cartels.
• Washington says the operations killed 21 people in international waters, part of a broader maritime buildup in the Caribbean that has drawn global scrutiny.
• Venezuela’s ambassador Samuel Moncada warned his country expects an armed attack, while Russia accused the United States of violating international law by firing on vessels at sea.
• France and Panama called for multilateral, law‑based responses to trafficking and urged states to refrain from unilateral armed action that would undercut human rights obligations.
• A U.N. briefing noted tensions have risen since strikes conducted between Sept. 2 and Oct. 3, and separately, U.S. Senate Republicans blocked a measure that sought to limit the president’s authority for such use of force.