U.S. Preparing New Operation Targeting Venezuela as Pressure on Maduro Intensifies

The United States is preparing a new type of operation centered on Venezuela, according to four U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters. They said the Trump administration is planning tougher measures to increase pressure on President Nicolás Maduro’s government. However, the timing, scale, and whether President Trump has made a final decision remain uncertain.

In recent weeks, the U.S. has strengthened its military presence in the Caribbean, while relations between Washington and Caracas have deteriorated further. The Pentagon referred questions on the matter to the White House, and the CIA declined to comment. A senior White House official said that “nothing is being ruled out” regarding Venezuela and that Trump is prepared to use all available powers if necessary.

U.S. officials claim that Maduro is involved in facilitating illegal drug trafficking responsible for many deaths in the United States—an allegation Maduro strongly denies. Two of the officials confirmed that among the U.S. options is the possibility of removing Maduro from power.

Maduro, in office since 2013, has repeatedly accused Trump of attempting to oust him, saying that the Venezuelan people and the military would resist such attempts. On Sunday, Maduro turned 63. The previous night he attended the premiere of a television series about his life at a major theater in Caracas.

The U.S. has notably increased its military footprint in the Caribbean in recent months. Trump has already approved CIA covert operations inside Venezuela. Meanwhile, last Friday the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned airlines of potentially dangerous conditions in Venezuelan airspace, prompting three major international airlines to suspend their flights to the country.

The United States also plans to designate the “Cartel de los Soles” as a foreign terrorist organization on Monday. Washington alleges the network traffics drugs from Venezuela into the U.S. and that Maduro leads the group—an accusation he has again denied.

The developments signal a sharp escalation in U.S. strategy toward Venezuela, raising the prospect of significant geopolitical consequences in the region.