Trump suggests attacks could occur on Venezuelan soil to target drug traffickers

President Donald Trump has hinted at the possibility of a ground operation in Venezuela under the pretext of targeting drug traffickers. He said that the attacks his administration is currently carrying out against Venezuelan drug traffickers could soon expand, potentially even onto Venezuelan territory.

Speaking at a White House press conference on Thursday (October 23), amidst speculation about U.S. aggression toward Venezuela, Trump made these remarks.

The Trump administration has increased military presence around Venezuela and declared a virtual war against drug traffickers.

Since September, U.S. forces have targeted nine vessels in the Caribbean Sea, resulting in at least 37 deaths. The administration claims these vessels originated from Venezuela and are part of a “drug-terrorist threat” linked to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The growing military presence and repeated attacks on vessels around Venezuela have led many to speculate that the U.S. could soon launch a military invasion of the Latin American country. Meanwhile, tensions have spread across Latin America, and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has begun preparing for war.

Amid this tension, Trump hinted at a potential ground attack in Venezuela during a White House press conference with staff. He stated, “The next target will be Venezuelan territory.” He added, “There is no need to declare war to attack drug traffickers, but Congress will be informed about the operation.”

Trump said, “I think we’ll just kill those people who are bringing drugs into our country. Alright? We will kill them. Now it’s coming over land… and you know, the next target will be Venezuelan land.”

During the same press conference, Trump denied a Wall Street Journal report claiming that U.S. B-1 bombers had flown near Venezuela earlier in the day. He said, “We have not deployed any bombers yet, but a ground operation in Venezuela could happen very soon.”

Analysts have speculated that the Trump administration’s anti-drug efforts may actually be a pretext for attempting to oust President Nicolás Maduro, whom Trump has labeled a “drug-terrorist.” Even some influential Trump supporters and opposition Democrats have questioned the administration’s potential military action against Venezuela.

For instance, Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly told MSNBC in an interview, “Now we are flying B-52s off the coast of Venezuela. Are we talking about regime change there?”

He questioned, “Has regime change so frequently benefited the United States, whether in Vietnam, Cuba, Iraq, or Afghanistan? It has put Americans’ lives at risk. It does not make us safer. On the contrary, it has the opposite effect.”