The US is reportedly looking to target Venezuelan drug traffickers, which raises some questions about the potential for a shift in administration within the country.
According to multiple sources, US military officials are considering operations against drug traffickers inside Venezuela in the near future.
The White House remarked, “We’ll see what happens. Venezuela is sending us gang members, drug dealers, drugs. That’s not acceptable,” echoing sentiments previously expressed by Trump.
This information emerges amid escalating tensions related to drug trafficking and military activity by the US in the Caribbean region.
Throughout September, President Trump had authorized strikes on boats suspected of transporting drugs and traffickers.
“Beware – if you’re transporting drugs that can kill Americans, we’re hunting you!” Trump claimed in a recent post, sharing a video of one of his boat strikes on September 15. He emphasized that illegal cartel activities have led to significant harms in American communities over the years.
This military action has drawn the ire of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
In response to the first strike on September 2, Maduro deployed two F-16 fighters over a US Navy destroyer just a couple of days later.
Maduro accused the US of attempting to provoke a change of government and suggested that the US is “looking for a military case.”
Despite these claims, Trump has insisted that changing Venezuela’s administration isn’t the goal of his administration, stating, “We’re not talking about that” in discussions with reporters.
Maduro is believed to lead a major drug trafficking organization and there’s a substantial bounty on his head from the State Department.
Republican lawmakers are cautioning that Maduro may face serious repercussions. During an interview, Florida Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart noted that Maduro has several paths ahead of him.
Another Florida Republican, Carlos Gimenez, suggested back in August that “Maduro’s days are numbered.”
As the US reinforces its presence in the region, plans to send 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico have emerged, according to sources.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarked in mid-September, “We don’t intend to have a cartel that runs government in our own hemisphere.” He affirmed that the US will not allow drug cartels to operate with impunity or send drugs to American shores.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth described Maduro as “effectively a drug kingpin,” and hinted that he should be concerned.
A former National Security Council member emphasized that the current approach is not about bringing democracy but rather a security measure aimed at disrupting significant drug trafficking networks affecting the United States.
Recently, Trump laid out his stance on combating drug traffickers during a speech at the United Nations.
“We have recently begun to use the highest powers of the US military to destroy the Venezuelan terrorists and human trafficking networks led by Nicolas Maduro,” Trump proclaimed at the UN General Assembly. He warned all criminals bringing poison into the US that they are being targeted.
Maduro is not regarded as a legitimate leader, but rather as a fugitive undermining regional security, according to Trump, who stressed that the US is committed to counter-cartel operations focused on him.
