U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Venezuela, declaring that Venezuelan fighter jets will be shot down if they fly over U.S. naval vessels and place them “in a dangerous position.”
His remarks follow reports that Venezuelan military aircraft flew near an American ship off the South American coast for the second time in two days, according to U.S. officials.
The escalation comes after the U.S. military struck a vessel allegedly transporting drugs from Venezuela, which, according to the Trump administration, was operated by a criminal gang. The strike reportedly left 11 people dead, BBC reported.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro rejected Washington’s accusations, emphasizing that disagreements between the two countries do not justify an “armed conflict.”
“Venezuela has always been ready to talk and engage in dialogue, but we demand respect,” Maduro said.
When asked by reporters in the Oval Office what would happen if Venezuelan fighter jets repeated such flights, Trump responded that Venezuela would be in ‘serious trouble.’ He confirmed that he had given his generals a green light to act if the situation escalates.
Since returning to office in January, President Trump has intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking in Latin America, placing particular focus on Venezuela’s alleged role in the narcotics trade.
