Lawmakers across Americas call for end to U.S. boat strikes

A cross-border request

More than 70 lawmakers from North and South America are urging the Trump administration to stop its deadly campaign of strikes against boats alleged to be smuggling drugs. The group includes lawmakers from the United States, Canada and Colombia, giving the request support from lawmakers in multiple countries across the Americas.

The stated request is to end the campaign. The policy at issue uses lethal force against boats whose suspected role in drug smuggling is described as an allegation.

Lawmakers from the United States are asking their own administration to change course. Lawmakers from Canada, Colombia and elsewhere in the Americas are directing the same request to the U.S. government. Their shared position is that the strike campaign should not continue.

What the appeal means

The Trump administration must decide whether to continue the campaign or respond to the lawmakers’ demand that it stop. The cross-border appeal does not itself change U.S. policy, but it places lawmakers from several countries on record against the strikes.

The call concerns the administration’s current defense and national security policy. It is not directly tied to a candidate or an election contest, and no candidate positions are part of this development.

The next step is whether the administration responds to the lawmakers or changes the campaign. The appeal itself is a request to the administration, not an announced change in U.S. policy.