U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that he has “in a certain way made the decision” on whether or not to undertake military action against Venezuela, at a time when regional tensions have sharply increased following two months of U.S. operations against vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean.
“I can’t tell you what will happen, but in some way I have decided,” Trump said, adding that the United States has made “significant progress” in curbing the flow of drugs coming from Venezuela.
The United States has deployed F-35 aircraft, warships, and a nuclear submarine to the region as part of a strengthened military presence following a series of deadly attacks on vessels near Venezuelan shores. Additionally, the “Gerald Ford” aircraft carrier strike group was relocated to Latin America this week, bringing more than 75 aircraft and over 5,000 additional troops.
The U.S. continues to refuse recognition of Nicolás Maduro as the legitimate president of Venezuela, considering his administration illegitimate since he assumed office following Hugo Chávez’s death in 2013. The State Department has offered a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest or conviction—an amount that has steadily increased since 2020.
Maduro has accused Trump of attempting to overthrow him, while the U.S. president has repeatedly denied seeking regime change in Venezuela.
