As President Donald Trump announces plans for U.S. military action against cartel activities in Venezuela, a national security expert expresses concerns about possible retaliation against American citizens. This expert warns that such retaliatory actions could indeed happen.
The Trump administration has been engaging in strikes on cartel drug ships from Venezuela in the Caribbean for several months. Recently, Trump stated intentions to extend this offensive onto mainland Venezuela.
Victoria Coats, who previously served as a senior national security adviser to Trump, shared in a conversation that she believes the president possesses ample authority to proceed with these operations. However, she pointed out that cartels might retaliate by targeting Americans through terrorist means.
Coats, who currently works at the Heritage Foundation’s Institute on National Security and Foreign Policy, cited a recent incident where two National Guardsmen were shot by an Afghan national near the White House during Thanksgiving. It’s alarming, and she highlighted that the U.S. is still uncertain about what threats may have entered the country during the Biden administration and its open border policies.
She noted that the Trump administration is well aware of the potential retaliatory risks from cartels and other supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The U.S. has previously linked Maduro to cartel-related activities. Last November, the State Department designated Maduro’s Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization. This group reportedly provides “material support” to other terrorist entities, including the Torren de Aragua and Sinaloa cartels, which have been connected to numerous violent crimes in the U.S.
In late November, Trump reportedly gave Maduro an ultimatum to leave Venezuela, just before stating that the nation’s airspace should be closed. A call was made to Caracas, ensuring that Maduro and his family could evacuate, provided he resigned immediately.
Maduro labeled these threats as “imperialist” and declared, “If the empire attacks us, we will defend every inch of our territory.”
Coats cautioned that this resistance could manifest within the U.S. itself, especially given the known presence of Venezuelan organized crime here.
House Republicans seem to currently support Trump’s actions towards Venezuela, although there’s an underlying uncertainty about escalating these efforts.
Coats expressed concern that these criminal organizations might have established networks in the U.S. for human and drug trafficking, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation. She mentioned that the FBI and other agencies are keeping an eye on these threats, and they remain vigilant.
Regarding the government’s approach, Coats highlighted the importance of Trump’s deportation plan and actions against cartels. She explained that these initiatives aim to track down and deport criminal elements effectively. It falls to law enforcement to identify cartel operations here and disrupt them, as that’s essential to their work.
Coats noted that this situation reflects a new type of threat: drug cartels connected to foreign governments. That’s why the president’s actions are crucial, she believes.
In her view, it’s vital for Americans to recognize that the complexities of this issue extend beyond mere drug enforcement. With approximately 100,000 overdoses annually linked to incoming drugs like fentanyl and significant cocaine shipments from Venezuela, it’s become more than a nuisance; it’s a stark threat to national security.
