President Trump was asked at the weekend whether he would contemplate U.S. missile strikes in Venezuela to destroy the cartels the White House says operate there. “We’ll see what happens,” he said. “Look, Venezuela is sending us their gang members, their drug dealers and drugs. It’s not acceptable.”
About a day later, the administration’s likely approach became a little clearer. On Monday, the United States destroyed another vessel from Venezuela, allegedly carrying drugs, on its way north across the Southern Caribbean. “BE WARNED,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “IF YOU ARE TRANSPORTING DRUGS THAT CAN KILL AMERICANS, WE ARE HUNTING YOU!”
This was the second time in two weeks the United States had blown up a boat, the first having occurred on Sept 2, when the Trump administration claimed 11 narcoterrorists were killed. That specific strike was a big deal; the last time a U.S. administration used the US military in such a kinetic fashion in the Americas, the year was 1989, George HW Bush was president and Panamanian dictator (and former CIA asset) Manuel Noriega was at the top of Washington’s most-wanted list.
Trump may still be debating the feasibility of striking Venezuelan targets on land, but one thing is certain: the U.S. military is now positioned to sustain a campaign of airstrikes against drug-related facilities and assets if Trump chooses to do so. Approximately eight U.S. warships are parked in the area, most off the Venezuelan coast. Ten F-35 aircraft are being stationed in Puerto Rico, with U.S. defence secretary Pete Hegseth recently travelling to the territory to make a big show of the muscle now on display.
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