US has called Venezuela’s leader, President Nicolas Maduro, illegitimate and the head of a drug-trafficking network
By Catherine Lucey and Hadriana Lowenkron
President Donald Trump said he had made “progress” on Venezuela in regards to halting the flow of drugs amid speculation that his administration is preparing to strike targets in the country.
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One Friday he had “sort of made up my mind” when asked if he had come to a decision on next steps with Venezuela. “I can’t tell you what it is, but we made a lot of progress with Venezuela in terms of stopping drugs from pouring in.”
The US has called Venezuela’s leader, President Nicolas Maduro, illegitimate and the head of a drug-trafficking network, and in recent weeks Trump has stepped up his rhetoric against his regime.
The US since September has been carrying out a campaign of airstrikes against purported drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean, killing dozens, in a bid to halt South American drug cartels from exporting illegal narcotics that are fueling an opioid crisis in the US.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to expand those attacks to land, fueling speculation about US strikes on Venezuela. Last month, however, he denied that he was considering such attacks on the country after a report that the administration had identified potential targets but had not decided whether to carry out any actions.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday announced an operation against so-called “narco-terrorists” in the hemisphere, raising questions of if the US response could intensify or expand. That announcement also came amid a massive military buildup in the region highlighted by the arrival of an aircraft carrier strike group.
