How U.S. Maritime Strikes Threaten International Law, Peace, and Justice.

The Dangerous Precedent of Power; How U.S. Maritime Strikes Threaten International Law, Peace, and Justice.

1. The Rising Storm in the Caribbean

Recent U.S. military strikes against small vessels near Venezuelan waters have reignited global debate on the limits of state power.

Under the banner of combating “narcoterrorism,” the United States has conducted multiple lethal operations in international waters—actions that have reportedly killed civilians, including fishermen and local workers.

The United Nations’ human rights experts have condemned these actions as “extrajudicial executions”, asserting that they breach international law and endanger global peace.

2. The Legal and Moral Dilemma

International law draws a clear line between law enforcement and warfare.

By conducting maritime strikes without judicial authorization or transparent evidence, the U.S. risks eroding that distinction.

The use of force in international waters—where no immediate threat exists—violates the principles of sovereignty, proportionality, and necessity enshrined in the U.N. Charter.

When legal boundaries blur, the moral order of the world is also shaken.

States cannot selectively interpret law to justify power; justice cannot exist when might becomes right.

Every civilian life lost in such unaccountable actions challenges the conscience of the international community.

3. Voices of Grief and Resistance

The Caribbean and South American response has been both emotional and political.

From the mourning families of Trinidad to official protests by Venezuela and criticisms from Colombia, regional actors have voiced a unified concern: Where is justice? Where is due process?

These nations understand too well that unrestrained military actions—no matter their declared intent—often target the powerless.

Behind every statistic lies a family, a name, a human soul that deserved dignity and a fair hearing.

4. The Erosion of Global Norms

This moment marks a critical test for the global order.

If such unilateral maritime strikes become normalized, the precedent will invite similar actions by other powers under different pretexts.

It will turn the oceans—symbols of openness and shared humanity—into arenas of fear and lawlessness.

The decline of respect for sovereignty and international law does not only harm smaller nations; it destabilizes the entire system that protects peace.

Without accountability, even the most democratic states risk descending into moral hypocrisy.

5. Power, Poverty, and Inequality

There is also a human truth behind this crisis: those who die in these operations are rarely powerful.

They are often poor fishermen, workers, or migrants—individuals caught between geopolitical struggles they neither created nor control.

This reflects a deeper inequality within the global order, where the lives of the powerless are deemed expendable in the name of security.

True justice demands more than military precision—it requires moral vision.

Peace cannot be built on fear, and equality cannot coexist with impunity.

6. A Call for Accountability

The U.N. experts have rightly demanded independent investigations into these strikes.

The world must support that call.

Transparency and accountability are not obstacles to security—they are its foundation.

If the U.S. and its allies believe in the rule of law, they must be the first to uphold it.

International cooperation through lawful means—joint maritime policing, anti-narcotics agreements, and fair trials—can achieve security without sacrificing humanity.

Violence without justice only breeds more violence.

7. The Path Forward: Peace, Justice, and Equality

The time has come for world leaders to reaffirm that justice is not selective, and peace is not unilateral.

Global security must be rooted in respect for sovereignty, fairness, and human dignity.

The fight against crime and terrorism must never become an excuse for abandoning the principles that protect humanity itself.

As humanity stands at this crossroad, the question is simple: will we build a future governed by law and equality—or by fear and force?

The answer will define the moral direction of the twenty-first century.

Conclusion

This crisis is more than a geopolitical dispute—it is a test of conscience.

If we allow the normalization of unlawful violence in the name of order, we surrender the very values that sustain civilization.

Peace, justice, and equality are not merely ideals; they are the pillars of human survival.

To defend them is to defend the future of humanity.

Syed Ali Raza Naqvi Bukhari

Unity of Peace, Economic Reform, and Global Unity

Founder & Chairman of Tehreek Istehkam Pakistan, and author of “Law of God” and “Social Democratic System.”

Advocates for truth, social justice, and reform in all sectors of society.