U.N. Rights Chief Condemns U.S. Military Strikes in Caribbean and Pacific as “Unacceptable”

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, condemned U.S. military strikes against boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, calling them “unacceptable” and demanding an immediate halt. The remarks marked the first such criticism from a United Nations body regarding the operations.

Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for Türk’s office, stated during a U.N. briefing: “These attacks and their mounting human cost are unacceptable. The U.S. must halt such attacks and take all measures necessary to prevent the extrajudicial killing of people aboard these boats.” She emphasized that the strikes violate international human rights law.

The U.S. military campaign, framed as an anti-drug and counter-terrorism effort, has faced scrutiny. President Donald Trump justified the operations as a necessary response to drug trafficking, but regional countries have expressed division over the approach.

On Wednesday, U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced another strike in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing four individuals aboard a vessel. This was the 14th such strike since early September, with at least 61 fatalities reported.

Shamdasani noted that while the U.S. characterizes the campaign as law enforcement, international agreements restrict the use of lethal force to “imminent threats to life.” She warned that the strikes occur “outside the context” of armed conflict and risk constituting extrajudicial killings.