MADRID/ROME, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. operations in international waters targeting alleged drug-trafficking activities pose a challenge to international law and raise questions about the West's consistency in applying its principles, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has said.
In an exclusive interview published Friday by the Italian magazine L'Espresso, Sanchez said the United States has carried out killings in international waters without judicial process, under the justification of combating drug trafficking.
Sanchez said that such a challenge to international law is deeply concerning and reinforces external criticism that the West applies its principles inconsistently.
In recent months, the U.S. government has intensified counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean and waters near Venezuela, citing efforts to curb drug smuggling amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Caracas.
Sanchez urged all parties to resolve disputes through peaceful and political means to avoid further escalation. ■