„Nur Befehle befolgen“? Experten bezweifeln, dass ein gesetzliches Memo Truppen vor Strafverfolgung wegen Trumps Bootsangriffen schützt

A newly unveiled legal memo from [Donald Trump’s Department of Justice](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-venezuela-caribbean-drug-strikes-legal-b2860230.html) claims military personnel involved in a [series of lethal strikes](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/uk-intel-sharing-trump-caribbean-b2863100.html) against alleged drug runners won’t face criminal prosecution in the future.

But conflict experts tell *The Independent* that the “just following orders” defense may not stick under other administrations or federal judges who could find the strikes illegal, exposing Pentagon officials and others to [criminal liability](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-drug-boat-strike-hegseth-b2859028.html).