Trump Says U.S. Has Made Progress Against Drug Flows as Venezuela Options Discussed
Trump says the U.S. is making progress against drug shipments as Washington debates military options in Venezuela and conducts deadly strikes on suspected traffickers.
U. S. President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that, in his view, Washington had achieved significant progress in efforts to halt drug shipments, amid reports suggesting the United States may be preparing strikes on targets in Venezuela.
When asked whether he had made a decision regarding further actions toward Venezuela, Trump confirmed that such a decision had been made but refused to disclose any details.
Since September, U.S. armed forces have been carrying out airstrikes on vessels suspected of transporting drugs in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific. These strikes have already resulted in dozens of deaths. Authorities describe the campaign as part of the fight against drug cartels and narcotrafficking. According to The Wall Street Journal, a classified Justice Department memorandum justifying the strikes claims that the synthetic opioid fentanyl could potentially be used as a chemical weapon. The document has drawn criticism from both Republicans and Democrats.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to expand strikes into Venezuelan territory, although in October he said he was not considering such a move. Nevertheless, The Washington Post reports that discussions about possible military action in Venezuela continue in Washington. Meetings at the White House were held on November 13 and 14 with the participation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Kane, Vice President J. D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.
Earlier in November, White House officials said there were no legal grounds for strikes against any land-based targets in Venezuela.
Amid the rising tensions, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro called on the American public and on Trump personally to end what he described as «endless wars» and pursue peace. The Kremlin, commenting on the U.S. announcement of an anti-narcoterrorist campaign in the Western Hemisphere known as Southern Spear, expressed hope that the situation in the Caribbean region would not be destabilized.