US President Donald Trump has made statements indicating possible land operations in Venezuela. While he has not publicly disclosed specific details, reports from Reuters suggest that he has privately pressured President Nicolas Maduro to leave the country. Trump recently stated that it would be “smart” for Maduro to step down from power.
The Pentagon has not yet provided a response to requests for comment on the situation. The US has significantly increased its military presence in the region, deploying an aircraft carrier, warships, and advanced fighter jets in the Caribbean.
Trump has implemented a series of measures against Venezuela, including a blockade on Venezuelan oil, expanded sanctions, and conducted over two dozen strikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Recently, Trump announced that the US had conducted operations in Venezuela targeting drug trafficking areas, marking the first time such actions have been taken since the pressure campaign began.
While it remains unclear whether these strikes were carried out by the CIA, reports from other media outlets suggest the involvement of the spy agency. Trump has accused Venezuela of being a major source of drug trafficking into the US, leading to the ongoing military actions against boats originating from South America.
The attacks have been criticized by many countries as extrajudicial killings, with Maduro’s government consistently denying any involvement in drug trafficking activities.
