Trump Confirms Major Caribbean Operation Neutralized Submersible Threat

President Donald Trump announced Saturday that U.S. forces successfully carried out a military operation in the Caribbean earlier this week, destroying what he described as a “large hostile submersible vessel” and neutralizing four individuals involved in the mission — two of whom were captured alive.

In a statement shared on Truth Social, Trump said the intercepted vessel was traveling along what he called a “known transnational route of concern” toward the United States. He noted that intelligence indicated the craft was designed to transport harmful contraband that has caused widespread devastation across American communities.

The operation, according to Trump, may have saved thousands of lives. “This was a dangerous mission, executed with precision,” he said. “No U.S. forces were injured in the strike. Under my leadership, the United States will never allow those who threaten the health and safety of our citizens to move freely — by land, air, or sea.”

The president also authorized the release of video footage showing the engagement, marking the first time official visuals of the operation have been made public.

Details of the Caribbean Operation

According to reports from Fox News, two of the individuals aboard the vessel survived and were taken into custody by U.S. naval forces following the engagement. Trump’s announcement on Saturday confirmed both their nationalities and their current detention aboard an American warship.

This latest mission is the sixth maritime interception conducted by U.S. forces in the Caribbean since a broader regional operation began last month. The Pentagon has not yet disclosed the formal name or full scope of the campaign, citing operational security concerns.

Trump first referenced the successful strike during a White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday. “We neutralized a submersible built for large-scale transport and movement,” he told reporters. “It was operating along a route that has been used for years to bring dangerous and illegal products into our country.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking separately the same day, declined to discuss the specifics of the engagement but confirmed that “appropriate follow-up actions are being taken” and that additional information would be shared at a later time.

The president also confirmed that U.S. intelligence and defense agencies, including the CIA, have been authorized to increase monitoring and enforcement operations across key maritime zones in the region. On Thursday, U.S. Air Force B-52 bombers conducted what officials called a “show of presence” near Venezuelan waters as part of an ongoing deterrence strategy.

Expanding Policy Focus on National Security

The administration’s latest military actions are part of a broader campaign to address transnational criminal networks responsible for transporting harmful substances into the United States. These efforts have received strong backing from congressional Republicans, who have urged stricter penalties for those facilitating the movement and distribution of dangerous materials.

In 2023, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia introduced a legislative amendment that would impose the harshest possible penalties on individuals found guilty of importing lethal synthetic compounds across the southern border. “Every day, American families are losing loved ones,” Greene said at the time. “It’s time to ensure real consequences for those who profit from these deadly enterprises.”

Other lawmakers have voiced similar concerns. Representative Paul Gosar of Arizona, in a separate proposal known as The Accountability and Safety Act, pushed for maximum sentencing for individuals engaged in large-scale trafficking of toxic substances. “For years, policymakers have turned a blind eye,” Gosar said. “The results have been devastating — and it’s long past time to take decisive action.”

Gosar also criticized prior administrations for what he described as “lenient enforcement” and praised Trump for restoring strength to U.S. border and maritime defense. “The results speak for themselves,” he noted. “Our forces are once again acting decisively to protect American lives.”

The Broader Context

Since the beginning of 2021, the southern border and nearby sea routes have seen an unprecedented rise in illicit trafficking operations. Officials estimate that more than one million pounds of prohibited materials have been intercepted in just a few years, including thousands of pounds of synthetic chemicals with devastating health effects.

“The scale of the crisis cannot be overstated,” Gosar said. “More Americans have lost their lives to poisoning in the last two decades than in all combat operations combined since the nation’s founding.”

The White House said Saturday’s strike demonstrates the Trump administration’s continued focus on “protecting the homeland” and ensuring “zero tolerance” for transnational networks that endanger U.S. citizens.

“This was not just a military success,” Trump said. “It was a message — that America’s borders extend to wherever threats against our people begin.”