Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to reporters on September 2, 2025, addressing recent U.S. actions against drug trafficking in the Caribbean region and providing context for ongoing counterdrug operations.
Rubio clarified that he was not at the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) on the day of his remarks but had visited the previous Friday. He explained, “I was – I had a – the Polish Government foreign ministry did the Lech Walesa Award today for a Cuban dissident. So obviously she’s not here, so I attended that this morning.”
Responding to questions about Venezuela and a recent strike involving a vessel, Rubio said: “Well, the President made – the President made the announcement and said it was a lethal strike. I think the Pentagon will have more details and other things to offer you here in the next few hours (inaudible).” When asked about specifics regarding the vessel involved, Rubio stated: “The drug vessel – carrying drugs.” He referred additional questions about its size and contents to Pentagon officials.
Asked what types of drugs were found on board or how many deaths occurred during the operation, Rubio declined to provide further details but reiterated: “Again, look, I’m not trying to be evasive. I’ll let the Pentagon answer that. Suffice it to say that the President is going to be on offense against drug cartels and drug trafficking into the United States. It destabilizes not just the country but the entire Caribbean Basin. These particular drugs were probably headed to Trinidad or some other country in the Caribbean, at which point they just contribute to the instability these countries are facing.”
Rubio continued: “So the President has been very clear that he is going to use the full power of America, the full might of the United States, to take on and eradicate these drug cartels no matter where they’re operating from and no matter how long they have been able to act with impunity. Those days are over.”
He confirmed ongoing operations as long as vessels remain in regional waters: “I think as long as those vessels are in the region and as long as the President’s in the White House, he’s made very clear he’s not going to allow the United States to continue to be flooded with cocaine and fentanyl and other drugs coming from different places – this one is from Venezuela, which is a common route. But by the way, some of it ends up in Europe. A lot of it ends up in Puerto Rico and then on into the United States mainland. So no one should be surprised. That’s why they’re there on a counterdrug mission, and they’re going to continue to operate. As far as specifics and future operations, I have to refer you to the Pentagon on that. This is a DOD operation.”
When asked if he could identify which cartel operated the destroyed vessel or share further operational details about groups targeted by U.S actions out of Venezuela—classified by officials as narcoterrorist organizations—Rubio replied: “Again, I’ll let the operators discuss all of that. But I thought it was – the President was very clear, and that is we destroyed a drug boat that left Venezuela operated by a designated narcoterrorist organization, which is what these are, and he’s been clear that the days of acting with impunity... those days are over... Now it is we are going to wage combat against drug cartels that are flooding American streets and killing Americans.”
Questions were also raised about whether U.S forces would act directly against Venezuelan government targets or operate within Venezuelan territory; Rubio responded: “Well this is a counterdrug operation and we’re going to take on drug cartels wherever they are and wherever they’re operating against the interest of the United States.... But we’ll – I’m not going to speculate about what might come down the road.”
On legal authority for such strikes abroad—including designating certain groups as terrorist organizations—Rubio said: "Well look again I'm not going answer for White House Counsel Suffice it say all those steps were taken advance The President has designated these as terrorist organizations which what they are When you flood American streets with drugs you terrorizing America that's going end"
Rubio concluded his press interaction by reiterating support for ongoing counter-narcotics missions led by Department of Defense assets throughout affected regions.
