Is Bombing Drug Boats Ethical? A Christian Look at Just War Theory

Anatomy of the Church and State

Is Bombing Drug Boats Ethical? A Christian Look at Just War Theory and Trump's Escalating War on Drugs

Hey folks, If you've been following the news lately, you know the war on drugs has taken a dramatic turn under President Trump. We're talking drone strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean. So far, more than twenty boats have been bombed as of the writing of this article. These operations are targeting groups like the National Liberation Army (ELN), labeled terrorists by the U.S. since 1997, with ties to drug trafficking out of Colombia and Venezuela. Donald Trump has even gone so far as to share declassified footage of the bombings on his Truth Social account.

As Christians, this raises some tough questions: Is it ethical to hunt down and kill drug dealers at sea without due process? Are we justified in treating cartels like terrorists, similar to how we handled Muslim threats in the early 2000s? To answer this, I turned to the Theological concept of Just War Theory. A theological framework discussed by early Church fathers as far back as Saint Augustine and Thomas Aquinas. It draws from Scripture to balance justice with the evils of violence. War is seen as inherently sinful due to human fallenness, but sometimes it's a necessary lesser evil to protect the innocent and restore order.

If you crack open the index of your study Bible, you won’t find Just War Theory listed, but it is built on Biblical themes. There are 6 key principles of Just War Theory and all six criteria must be met for a war—or in this case, these targeted strikes—to be morally justifiable. Let's break them down and see how they apply to bombing drug boats.

The Principles of Just War Theory

1. Legitimate Authority

War must be declared by a proper governing body, not individuals or vigilantes. This ensures order and opens the door for diplomacy. Scripture backs this in Romans 13:4: "For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer."

In this context, President Trump, as Commander-in-Chief, and the executive branch hold legitimate authority to protect our borders from illicit drugs. As Americans, we the people also share in this responsibility. We elect our leaders and must hold them accountable. This isn't vigilante justice; it's the government acting on behalf of the nation. I think we can safely say this criteria of Just War has been met. 

2. Just Cause

The action must address a grave wrong, like defending the innocent or stopping oppression, not for revenge or minor slights. Think Genesis 14, where Abraham rescues Lot from aggressors, or Deuteronomy 20's rules for war. The harm from drug cartels is undeniable. From 1999 to 2024, about 1.3 million Americans died from illicit drugs like fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and meth. In 2024 alone, 81,700 overdoses claimed the lives of Americans. Cartels also kill Americans directly: Around 60 U.S. citizens are murdered annually in Mexico, and sporadic violence spills over into border towns right here on our own soil.

Focusing on punishing the users has failed miserably and it's only ruined lives without stemming the tide. Shifting to targeting cartels, the "heads of the snake," makes sense. As a former drug user who nearly overdosed, I know the personal toll. Drugs almost wrecked my marriage and relationships. This is about protecting the innocent from a flood of poison. The cause is just, and thus meets the second criteria.

3. Right Intention

The aim must promote good without ulterior motives like hatred or domination. It should be waged with regret, not cruelty. Proverbs 21:3 says, "To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice." Galatians 5:19-24 contrasts works of the flesh (like enmity and strife) with the fruit of the Spirit (love, peace, kindness).

Trump's intentions seem pure. He's proven his commitment to "Make America Great Again" at great personal risk, surviving an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania and enduring indictments, Russiagate, and more. He could have bowed out, but he fights on. This isn't about domination; it's about safeguarding communities from drugs that devastate small towns hardest. With Trump having the right intentions here, we can consider this criteria met.

4. Last Resort

All non-violent options must be exhausted. Deuteronomy 20:10 instructs: "When you draw near to a city to fight against it, offer terms of peace to it."

The drug war has raged since 1971, and we've tried everything: Criminalizing users (which backfired), and even legalization experiments like in Portland, Oregon, which went so poorly they reversed course. Things have only worsened, especially with the fentanyl crisis. These strikes are a new tactic—hitting cartels at sea before they reach our shores, making them afraid to even try. We've exhausted other avenues; this feels like a necessary escalation and therefore meets the last resort criteria. (If you disagree, make your case in the comments!)

5. Reasonable Chance of Success

There must be realistic prospects of achieving goals without pointless destruction. No direct Scripture here, but biblical wisdom implies avoiding futile violence. (Readers, if you have a verse or theme that fits—like prudence in Proverbs—drop it below!)

This approach could work by pressuring leaders in Colombia, Venezuela, and Mexico to crack down internally. Drones blowing boats out of the water raises the stakes for cartels, potentially reducing drug flows drastically. We've seen failures before, but this military precision feels promising. I predict success, but this to me is also the most debatable. I could be talked out of this criteria being met, but for now I give it a check mark.  

6. Proportionality

The harm (casualties, destruction) must not outweigh the good achieved; force should be minimal. Deuteronomy 20:19 warns against needless destruction: "You shall not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them... Are the trees in the field human that they should be besieged by you?"

Men are being targeted and killed on these boats, but one pound of fentanyl can potentially kill 200,000 people (a lethal dose is just 2 milligrams). Real-world impacts vary, but the scale is staggering. Saving thousands from overdoses far outweighs targeting armed smugglers on known routes. This is proportionate and necessary. This criteria is met as far as I’m concerned. 

7. Discrimination

Noncombatants (civilians) must not be intentionally targeted; accidental harm is regrettable but permissible if unavoidable. Micah 6:8 reminds us: "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

These strikes are precise, based on intelligence, with no reports of civilian casualties so far (as of the writing of this article) No families or innocents on "fishing boats"—Colombia’s president claimed that, but U.S. intel says otherwise. We're not indiscriminately bombing; it's targeted at terrorists and traffickers. Until proven otherwise, civilians aren't in the crosshairs. Criteria met. 

Wrapping It Up: A Just Escalation?

Based on these principles, Trump's boat bombings meet every criterion of Just War Theory, making them ethically justifiable from a Christian perspective. We're not crusading blindly; this is about justice, protection, and minimizing greater evils. That said, I'm open to debate. If new info emerges or you see a flaw in my reasoning, hit the comments politely. Let's discuss!

One caveat: I trust these reports because the administration is transparent, posting footage publicly. History shows governments hide foul play, not flaunt it. If that changes, we would of course need to reevaluate.

Folks, drugs are ravaging our nation—let's pray for wisdom in fighting them. Heavenly Father, heal the addicted, strengthen our leaders like Trump and Hegseth, and guide us to justice with kindness. In Jesus' name, Amen.