On Sunday, former President Donald Trump offered a vague response regarding the potential for U.S. military action against Venezuela, particularly in light of ongoing tensions and the increase in drug trafficking from the country. Speaking in Morristown, New Jersey, he stated, “We’ll see what happens,” when asked about possible U.S. strikes on Venezuela. He emphasized that Venezuela has been sending gang members and drugs to the U.S., which he finds unacceptable.
The Pentagon recently reported that Venezuelan military jets are making provocative moves around U.S. naval vessels. Trump also mentioned that boat traffic from Venezuela has greatly diminished since the U.S. Navy bolstered its presence in the region. “We see what happens,” he reiterated when questioned about launching further actions against fishing boats suspected of drug trafficking, noting, “There was very little traffic on the boat.”
In addressing concerns about possible escalation from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who has labeled some U.S. actions as illegal, Trump highlighted the issue of drug-related deaths in the U.S. last year, which he claimed reached millions. “What’s illegal,” he stated, “is the drugs on boats, the drugs sent to our country…”
This commentary followed a recent U.S. military strike that reportedly destroyed a Venezuelan drug ship, killing nearly a dozen suspected narco-terrorists affiliated with the Tren de Aragua group. In an allegation made over the weekend, Venezuela’s foreign minister accused U.S. officials of boarding a tuna ship in its waters.
Trump remarked, “A lot of drugs are coming out of Venezuela. A lot of Tren de Aragua… They are about to go outside, but they are stopping them well at the Venezuelan border.” Back in February, the Trump administration designated groups like Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel as foreign terrorist organizations.
