United States President Donald Trump suggested on Sunday the possibility of ordering attacks against the Los Soles cartel within the territory of Venezuela. Asked by journalists about the measure, he answered directly: “already summer.” The statement occurs amid increased tensions between Washington and Caracas after US military operations in the Caribbean to combat drug trafficking.
Trump’s statement came a few days after he warned that any Venezuelan aircraft that represents a threat to US forces in the region will be overthrown. Last week, F-16 Venezuelan fighters briefly flew over an American military ship on anti-drug mission, an episode that led the Pentagon to send F-35 fighters to Puerto Rico and expand the military presence in the area.
The US government has already moved eight war ships and a nuclear submarine to the Caribbean, configuring one of the largest naval mobilizations of recent decades in Latin America. According to the White House, the measure is part of the US operation against drug trafficking.
In turn, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López announced on Sunday a reinforcement of the military presence in five states of the country, including Zulia, Falcón and Nueva Esparta.
“No one will come to do the job for us. No one will step on this land to do what to do to us,” said the minister on a video published on social networks.
The background of the US and Venezuela climbing includes the formal accusations of the White House against Maduro for narcoterrorism and the increase in reward for its capture to $ 50 million. Washington links the Chavista dictator to the so -called Los Soles cartel and international drug trafficking networks, and justifies his Caribbean operation as part of an offensive to curb drug entry into the US territory.
Tensions also coincide with Trump’s decision to recently restore Pentagon’s old name, which was once again called the War Department. According to him, the change reflects the current moment.
