The United States is poised to expand its campaign against alleged Venezuelan drug trafficking, with President Donald Trump announcing intentions to target operations "by land" in a significant escalation of tensions with Caracas. This move follows weeks of substantial US military deployment to the Latin American region, which has included an aircraft carrier group, advanced stealth fighter jets, and thousands of personnel.
Escalating US Operations and Venezuelan Accusations
President Trump's declaration on Thursday, delivered during a Thanksgiving address to US forces, signals a new phase in Washington's assertive stance. He highlighted existing efforts, stating that drug deliveries by sea have been "almost stopped," achieving an "85 percent" success rate. The president also issued a stern warning to Venezuela: "Stop sending poison to our country."
This expansion comes after US forces have conducted over 20 strikes against vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean since September, resulting in at least 83 fatalities. These maritime interdictions have drawn severe criticism from legal experts and several Latin American governments, who have denounced them as "extrajudicial killings." Critics point out that Washington has yet to provide concrete evidence to substantiate its claims that the targeted vessels were involved in drug trafficking, asserting that many of the casualties have been fishermen.
For its part, Caracas views these actions as a pretext for "regime change." Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and senior government officials have consistently been accused by the US of involvement in the drug trade. Maduro vehemently rejected these allegations, portraying Washington's drug trafficking narrative as a smokescreen for military intervention aimed at toppling his government.
Maduro's Defiant Response
Speaking on the same day, President Maduro adopted a defiant tone, emphasizing that Venezuelans would not be intimidated by the continuous US threats. He condemned what he described as 17 weeks of "foreign and imperialist forces continuously threatening to disrupt the peace" of the region, based on "false and extravagant arguments that no one believes."
Maduro reiterated the nation's resolve, stating, "Today, we say that in Venezuela, there is no threat or aggression that frightens our people or takes us by surprise." He underscored the readiness of the Venezuelan populace to defend their homeland, its territories, and its sovereignty with "imperturbable serenity." The ongoing geopolitical friction underscores the deep ideological and strategic chasm between the two nations, with the potential for further destabilization in the region.