Trump warns of action in Venezuela, US deploys 15 troops to Caribbean
Trump warns of action in Venezuela, US deploys 15 troops to Caribbean
M.U.H
17/11/202525
The US is significantly increasing its military presence in the Caribbean, while President Donald Trump has hinted that he has made a decision about possible action in Venezuela.
During a statement on Friday, Trump said that "I've kind of decided," not ruling out the option of intervening to crack down on drug trafficking and illegal immigration, or even to change the regime of President Nicolás Maduro.
According to the Pentagon, Operation Southern Spear has amassed over 15,000 US troops, more than a dozen warships, a command ship, attack submarines, and 10 F-35 jets stationed in Puerto Rico. Officials say the main objectives are related to disrupting drug trafficking and controlling strategic points in the region.
Trump has been briefed by a close group of national security officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine. The security group has presented several options, ranging from airstrikes on Venezuelan military facilities, to hitting drug trafficking routes, to a possible attempt to overthrow President Maduro.
However, Trump has his reservations, seeking to avoid actions that could endanger American troops or prove unsuccessful.
Experts warn that any clash with Venezuela carries serious risks, while the opposition in the country remains divided and the military is considered ready for an uprising in the event of intervention. Meanwhile, President Maduro has warned that any US strike would turn Venezuela into a “new Gaza” or “new Vietnam.”
The United States has already carried out at least 20 raids on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the area, in what analysts say is the largest concentration of forces in the Caribbean since the invasion of Panama in 1989.
On the political front, Trump faces the challenge of maintaining long-term public support, as Americans remain skeptical of long-term military involvement. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary Hegseth, both veterans of the Iraq War, have also expressed reluctance about new military commitments abroad. /TCH
