President Donald Trump defended recent U.S. military actions against Venezuelan drug boats, claiming the operations have had a major impact on protecting American citizens from the flow of illegal narcotics.

“Every boat that we knock out, we save 25,000 American lives,” Trump stated, highlighting the administration’s renewed crackdown on drug trafficking routes operating through the Caribbean and South American waters.

The president praised U.S. naval and Coast Guard forces for their “swift and decisive” actions in intercepting vessels allegedly linked to Venezuelan drug networks, which have long been accused of supplying large quantities of cocaine and other illegal substances to North America.

Officials say the strikes are part of a broader strategy to disrupt transnational cartels, cut off key smuggling routes, and strengthen regional security cooperation with Latin American allies.

Trump reiterated his commitment to keeping U.S. borders and communities safe, stating that the government will continue to “hit the cartels where it hurts most — their operations and their profits.”