US President Donald Trump has denied reports suggesting that the United States was planning military strikes in Venezuela, a claim that has drawn significant attention due to the ongoing tensions between the two nations. Trump refuted the allegations aboard Air Force One, asserting that such actions were not part of the administration’s intentions. The White House had reportedly been weighing potential operations on Venezuelan soil, with The Wall Street Journal citing that the US had identified targets, including military facilities used to smuggle drugs. Despite the media reports, Trump maintained that the claims were false, stating, “No. It’s not true.”
Since September, the US has carried out at least 14 operations against alleged cartel boats in the Caribbean, resulting in the deaths of over 61 individuals, according to Reuters. These actions have been part of the broader US strategy to combat drug trafficking, which has been a contentious issue in the region. Trump had previously dispatched an armada to the region, including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, and authorized covert CIA operations inside Venezuela. While he had previously suggested the possibility of striking targets on land, he has denied any intentions to topple President Nicolas Maduro, whom the FBI has placed on its wanted list.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has rejected the allegations of drug trafficking, stating that the country is being targeted by the US for political reasons and has vowed to defend its sovereignty in the event of an invasion. Maduro recently accused the US of fabricating a new war and called for peace. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has also condemned Washington’s actions, stating that one of the strikes had killed an ordinary fisherman with no links to cartels. This incident has further complicated the already tense dynamics between the US and its neighbors in the region, raising concerns about the potential for increased military conflict and its impact on regional stability.