Trump Promises Expansion of Military Operations Against Venezuelan Drug Traffickers
During remarks to military personnel, President Donald Trump indicated that the U.S. military would soon broaden its operations targeting Venezuelan drug traffickers. While current efforts have focused on the Caribbean, he mentioned preparations for actions from land as well.
Since early September, nearly 20 airstrikes have been executed against vessels suspected of drug smuggling, resulting in over 80 fatalities. Trump acknowledged the challenges faced, stating, “You’ve been working to stop drug traffickers in Venezuela, and there are a lot of them.” He expressed gratitude to the Air Force’s 7th Bomb Wing for their contributions to the newly designated Operation Southern Spear. He noted, “Of course, there aren’t that many people coming in from the sea anymore.”
Going on, Trump added, “You realize people don’t want deliveries by sea. We’re going to start eliminating deliveries by land as well. Also, land is easier, but it will start soon… We warn them: stop sending poison to our country.”
The president’s comments come as he weighs military action against Venezuela, where the White House has consistently referred to Nicolas Maduro as an illegitimate leader. The administration has been exploring various strategies to apply pressure on his regime.
In recent months, military assets have been positioned around Venezuela at unprecedented levels, including the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier to the Caribbean in mid-November as part of Operation Southern Spear.
Several military leaders, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have visited the region recently. On November 16, the State Department declared that cartels affiliated with President Maduro would be designated as foreign terrorist organizations, which might open the door for new sanctions targeting his assets.
Interestingly, Trump hasn’t dismissed the idea of direct talks with Maduro in the context of a multifaceted pressure campaign.
Earlier, in October, Trump had mentioned the potential for military strikes against drug smugglers, stating, “Land is next.” He hinted at possibly consulting with Congress about this, suggesting that he did not expect any pushback.
However, a CBS News/YouGov poll from November revealed that a significant majority of Americans — 76% — oppose military action against Venezuela, pointing out that the Trump administration has yet to clarify its position on this matter. Critics, including congressional Democrats and Republicans like Senator Rand Paul, have been vocal against any military intervention, calling for evidence that the vessels are indeed involved in drug trafficking and emphasizing the need for Congressional approval.
The Department of Defense suggested reaching out to the White House for further comments, but no responses were provided.
