The President of the United States, Donald Trump, said this Wednesday (15) that his government is analyzing the possibility of carrying out attacks within Venezuelan territory as part of a new offensive against drug trafficking. The statement was made during a press conference in the Oval Office of the White House, after American forces sank several drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean.
“I don’t want to tell you exactly, but without a doubt we are considering (actions on) land now, because we have the sea under control,” said the president.
Trump explained that naval operations in the Caribbean are part of a broader effort to contain drug trafficking that, according to him, originates in Venezuela and directly threatens the United States.
“It’s tough, but you lose three people (drug traffickers) and save 25,000,” he said, justifying the bombings against speedboats that, according to the American government, transported large quantities of drugs. The Republican added that each of these vessels carried enough drugs “for thousands of people to die from overdoses.”
During the press conference, Trump also confirmed that he authorized the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to carry out covert operations in Venezuela, as the newspaper had anticipated. The New York Times. According to the president, the leaders of Nicolás Maduro’s regime “empty their prisons” to send criminals to the United States, in addition to being directly involved in international drug trafficking.
“I believe Venezuela is feeling pressure, but I believe many other countries are too,” he declared.
When asked whether he had authorized the CIA to “eliminate” the Venezuelan dictator, Nicolás Maduro, Trump considered the question “ridiculous”, but did not deny that the secret actions were part of a pressure strategy against the Chavista regime. THE New York Times reported that the White House’s authorization represents an escalation in operations against Caracas, although it is still unclear whether the CIA has already initiated concrete actions or is merely preparing contingency plans.
American forces have intensified naval operations in the region in recent weeks, attacking vessels in international waters near Venezuela. Washington alleges that these speedboats were linked to drug trafficking networks controlled by the so-called “Cartel of the Suns”, which, according to the US Department of Justice, is led by Maduro and senior officers of the Venezuelan Armed Forces. The Caracas regime denies the accusations and claims to be the target of an intimidation campaign.
Trump’s speech comes amid an escalation of pressure from Washington against the Maduro regime. Earlier, according to the monitoring website Flightradar24three B-52 bombers — identified as BUNNY01, BUNNY02 and BUNNY03 — flew over the region near the island of La Orchila, where a Venezuelan military base is located. The aircraft arrived less than 200 kilometers from the capital, Caracas, but remained in international airspace.
Earlier, the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced naval exercises and amphibious operations in the Caribbean Sea “to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland.” According to the statement, the exercises involve helicopters and groups of marines.
