By Zoila Palma: U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a significant escalation in U.S. operations against alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers, saying Thursday that American forces could “very soon” begin targeting suspects on land.
Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago estate during Thanksgiving remarks to U.S. troops, Trump praised the Air Force’s 7th Bomb Wing for helping deter drug traffickers at sea and hinted that land-based operations were imminent.
The comments come as Washington continues to expand its military footprint across the Caribbean, raising expectations and concerns about the prospect of direct action inside Venezuela, NBC reports.
For months, the U.S. has intensified pressure on the Maduro government under the banner of counter-narcotics enforcement, carrying out nearly two dozen strikes on vessels alleged to be transporting drugs and resulting in at least 82 deaths.
The recent arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford in the Caribbean underscores a military buildup not seen in decades, alongside last week’s designation of the Cartel de los Soles — a group Washington claims is tied to President Nicolás Maduro — as a foreign terrorist organization.
Maduro has repeatedly rejected accusations of involvement in drug trafficking, accusing the U.S. of fabricating a pretext for military intervention.
Despite the growing show of force, Trump has suggested there may still be room for diplomacy, noting he is open to speaking with Maduro even as military operations continue.
White House officials, however, say the targeting of alleged narcotraffickers will persist.
In his Thanksgiving call, Trump also fielded questions from service members stationed across the globe, including Marines in Puerto Rico who expressed readiness to support operations against what the administration describes as narcoterrorist networks.
The post International News: Trump signals imminent U.S. land operations against alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a significant escalation in U.S. operations against alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers, saying Thursday that American forces could “very soon” begin targeting suspects on land. Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago estate during Thanksgiving remarks to U.S. troops, Trump praised the Air Force’s 7th Bomb Wing for helping deter drug traffickers
The post International News: Trump signals imminent U.S. land operations against alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.