The Trump administration has intensified efforts to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power, according to the New York Times.
Officials are reportedly discussing a broad campaign aimed at escalating pressure, including potential military measures, to force Maduro’s departure. The campaign is being led by Senator Marco Rubio, alongside the U.S. Secretary of State and the National Security Advisor.
Rubio has described Maduro as an illegitimate leader overseeing drug exports to the United States, calling it an “immediate threat.” In recent weeks, the U.S. military has conducted lethal strikes on civilian ships allegedly smuggling drugs for Venezuelan cartels.
According to NYT sources, Rubio is now shaping a more aggressive strategy using intelligence provided by the CIA. The Pentagon has reportedly positioned over 6,500 troops in the region.
Key figures such as CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Trump’s senior domestic policy advisor Stephen Miller reportedly support Rubio’s approach. While the White House has not formally approved military action, U.S. forces have planned potential operations targeting alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers as a subsequent phase.
Administration officials argue that because Maduro is at the helm of Venezuelan cartel networks, his removal could be framed as a counter-narcotics operation. Rubio frequently references the 2020 U.S. Department of Justice indictment against Maduro and other Venezuelan officials for drug trafficking. He has described Maduro as a “fugitive from U.S. justice” and the leader of a terrorist and organized crime network controlling a country.
Meanwhile, senior figures in the Venezuelan opposition have reportedly discussed contingency plans with the Trump administration regarding actions if Maduro is ousted.
