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Sunday, Donald Trump told a large gathering of sailors that American military units targeted another boat illegally transporting drugs off the coast of Venezuela on Saturday night. The president delivered these remarks at a ceremony marking the American navy's two hundred and fiftieth birthday held at Naval Station Norfolk located in Virginia.

The president further declared asserting that America would now begin focusing on narcotics smuggling taking place on land. This was not immediately clear whether Trump was referring to an operation announced last Friday from defense secretary Pete Hegseth.

Navy's Role in Anti-Narcotics Operations

In the address, Trump praised naval forces their support of the mission to eliminate cartel terrorists from the seas. Trump claimed, “There are no boats in the water anymore. You can’t find them”.

The navy has additionally been deployed to join an armed conflict against drug cartels, resulting in multiple attacks in the Caribbean on what the administration says are speedboats involved in narcotics smuggling.

“If drug smugglers were not coming in by sea, we’ll have to start looking about the land because they’ll be forced to go by land. And let me tell you that’s not going to work out well for them either,” Trump warned.

Global Response and Legal Issues

The United Nations has censured the US strikes—which the US justifies by claiming they target narco-terrorist individuals of Tren de Aragua, classified a foreign terrorist organization, on the high seas—as extrajudicial executions.

Last month, United Nations experts stated, “Governments are not permitted under international law to summarily execute suspected drug traffickers”. The UN added, “Illegal activities must be disrupted, examined, and prosecuted following legal standards, with international collaboration”.

Navy Celebrations Amid Federal Shutdown

The naval anniversary events take place during a closure of the US government that has left numerous military personnel working without pay. Trump has accused Democrats of enabling the shutdown and attempting “to destroy this wonderful celebration of the US Navy’s Birthday”.

On Friday night, Trump posted on social media, “In my view, ‘THE SHOW MUST GO ON!’ This event will be the grandest in Navy history. Numerous courageous active-duty members and military families will participate, and I eagerly anticipate sharing this unique occasion with them”.

Rebuilding Naval Strength and Command Shifts

The president has pledged to rebuild the navy’s shipbuilding capacity after concerns indicating the navy risks losing its position as the globe's dominant maritime force.

America's naval fleet stands at its smallest size from before World War II, while government-supported Chinese shipyards exceed the productivity of American yards.

Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, appointed in March, noted immediate action as lacking in naval shipbuilding and ordered an accelerated production schedule of new submarine classes.

The navy celebrations follow a period of turmoil in the Defense Department as Secretary Hegseth restructures the armed forces' top leadership of the army, navy, air force and coast guard.

New Policies and Training Suggestions

During a contentious speech to senior officers recently, Hegseth declared an end of “woke” culture and introduced new directives that include “gender-neutral” or “male-level” standards for physical fitness.

“The only mission of the newly restored Department of War is this: warfighting, preparing for war and preparing to win, unrelenting and uncompromising in that pursuit not because we want war, no one here wants war, but it’s because we love peace,” the secretary affirmed.

During the gathering, Trump suggested utilizing American urban areas as training grounds for the armed forces and discussed needing armed strength to address what he termed the “invasion from within”.