‘I don’t give a sh*t’: JD Vance brags about killing cartel members; sparks war crime debate

New Delhi: US Vice President JD Vance has defended the United States’ recent airstrike on a vessel allegedly involved in Venezuelan drug smuggling, saying he “doesn’t give a sh*t” if critics label it a war crime.

The airstrike, confirmed by the Donald Trump administration, destroyed a quad-motor watercraft off the coast of Venezuela, killing 11 people.

Officials claimed the vessel was linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, recently designated by Trump as a terrorist organisation. The US President alleged the group was working with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to traffic drugs into the country.

How did JD Vance justify the strike?

Vance wrote on X on Saturday, “Killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military.”

Political commentator Brian Krassenstein responded, saying, “Killing the citizens of another nation who are civilians without any due process is called a war crime.”

Vance replied bluntly, “I don’t give a sh*t what you call it.”

Is the strike legal under international law?

International law experts have warned that the strike could violate the UN Charter, which only allows the use of force in self-defence or with Security Council approval. Critics note that there is no evidence the boat posed an imminent threat.

White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly countered these concerns, stating the operation was “conducted against the operations of a designated terrorist organisation and was taken in defence of vital US national interests,” calling it “fully consistent” with international law.

How has President Trump responded?

Trump also issued a stern warning on Truth Social, writing, “Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE!”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth have indicated that this strike is not an isolated incident. Speaking to Fox News, Hegseth said, “We’ve got assets in the air, assets in the water, assets on ships, because this is a deadly serious mission for us, and it won’t stop with just this strike. Anyone else trafficking in those waters who we know is a designated narco terrorist will face the same fate.”

How does this compare to standard Coast Guard operations?

Normally, the US Coast Guard intercepts suspected smuggling boats, seizes contraband, and detains the crews. Recently, the Coast Guard reported that it had seized about 20,000 kg of cocaine in the Pacific Ocean over the past month.

What is JD Vance’s stance on using the military against cartels?

Vance, who campaigned last year on a tough stance against cartels, has long advocated for a more aggressive military approach.

At a rally, he said, “I think we’ve got hundreds of thousands of very fine Marines, soldiers, sailors and airmen, who are pretty pissed off at the Mexican cartels. I think we’ll send them in to do battle with the Mexican drug cartels, too.”