U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday rejected criticism from some European allies over the legality of recent U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean, asserting that Washington alone determines how to defend its national security.
Speaking at the conclusion of a Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers meeting in Canada’s Niagara region, Rubio dismissed concerns raised by France and others that the strikes violated international law.
“I don’t think that the European Union gets to determine what international law is,” he told reporters. “They certainly don’t get to determine how the United States defends its national security.”
The controversy centers on a series of at least 19 U.S. strikes carried out in recent weeks against suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and the Pacific coasts of Latin America, which have reportedly killed at least 76 people.
The Trump administration maintains that the targets were “narco-terrorists” involved in drug smuggling operations, though it has not provided evidence or a clear legal justification for using lethal force rather than making arrests.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot had earlier described the U.S. actions as a “violation of international law,” voicing concern for France’s territories in the Caribbean.
Similarly, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told Reuters that such strikes could only be justified under self-defense or with authorization from the U.N. Security Council.
In response to a CNN report suggesting that Britain had suspended intelligence sharing with Washington over the issue, Rubio said the story was “false” and insisted that cooperation with the U.K. remained “very strong.”
The United States has invoked Article 51 of the U.N. Charter, arguing the strikes fall under the right of self-defense, though independent U.N. experts last month criticized the operations as violations of the law of the sea and tantamount to “extrajudicial executions.”
Meanwhile, Colombian President Gustavo Petro has ordered the suspension of intelligence sharing with U.S. agencies until the strikes cease.
In a joint communiqué, the G7 ministers reaffirmed their commitment to combating illegal drug trafficking and enhancing maritime security but made no direct mention of the U.S. strikes.
The G7 discussions also focused heavily on the ongoing war in Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged allies to increase support for Kyiv’s defense capabilities, particularly long-range missiles and energy infrastructure, as the country faces another harsh winter under Russian attack.
Although President Donald Trump has pursued renewed engagement with Moscow, including an August summit in Alaska with Vladimir Putin, he continues to call for an immediate ceasefire along current front lines. Russia, however, insists on additional territorial concessions from Kyiv.
“What they want is the rest of Donetsk, and obviously the Ukrainians aren’t going to agree to that,” Rubio said, noting that Washington believes Moscow is “not currently interested in pursuing peace.”
In their final statement, G7 ministers reiterated support for Ukraine, pledged to increase economic pressure on Russia, and warned of measures against countries aiding Moscow’s war effort. Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand also announced a new round of sanctions targeting Russia’s drone program, liquefied natural gas operations, and so-called “shadow fleet” vessels.
Ukraine’s Sybiha, posting on X, praised Washington’s recent sanctions on Russian oil firms, saying, “We need to continue to increase the cost of war for Putin and his regime, forcing Russia to end the war.”
Despite growing friction among allies over Washington’s Caribbean campaign, the G7 meeting underscored a broader unity on confronting Russian aggression, even as new disputes emerge over how far U.S. power should extend beyond its shores.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
