Trump hints at making a decision on Venezuela after major military buildups in Latin America
US President Donald Trump has hinted that he has made a decision on what to do with Venezuela after the United States stepped up its military deployment in Latin America in a campaign it says is aimed at combating drug trafficking but raising fears of a full-scale conflict.
“I kind of made my decision,” Trump told reporters as he traveled to his Florida resort on Friday.
“I can’t tell you what its, but we have made great progress with Venezuela in terms of stopping the flow of drugs,” he said.
The Trump administration has been launching strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific for weeks targeting boats it says are smuggling drugs.
Air and naval capabilities were also deployed, most notably the aircraft carrier Gerald Ford, which was announced to have arrived off the coast of the region on Tuesday.
Trump’s comments came hours after his war secretary, Pete Higgseth, announced the start of a military operation in Latin America dubbed Southern Spear, stressing that it targets drug traffickers, without providing further details.
In recent weeks, Washington has launched strikes in international waters targeting about 20 boats it says are used for drug smuggling, killing at least 76 people, according to US data.
Washington has provided no evidence that the boats are being used to smuggle drugs.
The US strikes have drawn international criticism and fears that the US is aiming in the longer term to topple Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
CBS News on Thursday quoted several sources as saying that military officials had presented Trump with additional options on possible operations in Venezuela, including airstrikes on its territory.
Venezuela announced on Tuesday that its military was intensively deployed throughout its country in response to US imperialism, citing the extensive deployment of land, air, sea, river, missiles, weapon systems, military units and Bolivarian militia that includes civilians and former military personnel who form forces to strengthen the army and police.
