France Voices Concern Over U.S. Military Strikes in Caribbean, Citing Violation of International Law

France has expressed alarm over ongoing U.S. military operations in the Caribbean, warning that they breach international law and risk destabilizing the region.

“We have observed with concern the military operations in the Caribbean region, because they violate international law and because France has a presence in this region through its overseas territories, where more than a million of our compatriots reside,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers’ summit in Canada.

The U.S. military has reportedly conducted at least 19 strikes so far against suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and along the Pacific coasts of Latin America, resulting in at least 76 deaths.

Barrot cautioned that any escalation could endanger French citizens living in the area, adding, “They could therefore be affected by the instability caused by any escalation, which we obviously want to avoid.”

According to U.S. officials, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, has been deployed to the region, joining eight warships, a nuclear submarine, and F-35 fighter jets already stationed there.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has claimed that the growing U.S. military presence is part of a broader effort to remove him from power.