U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that military operations ‘by land’ to disrupt alleged Venezuelan drug trafficking networks will begin ‘very soon’. The announcement comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Venezuela, with Trump citing the need to combat drug trafficking as a key justification for the planned actions.
Trump’s comments were made during a press briefing, where he emphasized the importance of addressing cross-border drug trafficking. He stated that the operations would involve U.S. military personnel and special forces deployed to Venezuelan territory to directly confront drug cartels. This marks a significant escalation in the U.S. strategy against drug trafficking in the region.
Venezuela’s government has expressed concerns over the potential for increased U.S. military presence on its soil. President Nicolas Maduro has previously criticized U.S. interventions in the country, particularly citing the 2018 incident involving the alleged poisoning of a U.S. diplomat. The current situation could further strain diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Analysts suggest that Trump’s decision is partly driven by the need to address domestic drug consumption and related crime rates. The administration has long argued that foreign drug trafficking contributes significantly to the opioid crisis and other illicit drug use in the United States.