US President Donald Trump justified the lethal military strike that his administration said was carried out against a Venezuelan gang as a necessary effort by Washington to send an unmistakable message to Latin American cartels.

Asked why the military did not instead interdict the vessel and capture those on board, Mr Trump said the operation would cause drug smugglers to think twice about trying to move drugs into the US. Tuesday’s strike was a departure from typical US drug interdiction efforts at a time when Trump has ordered a major Navy buildup in the waters near Venezuela.