Trump Refutes Claims of Planned Military Action Against Venezuela

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President Donald Trump has firmly dismissed claims suggesting he is planning an attack on Venezuela amid escalating tensions.

Speculation has surfaced that Trump’s administration has curated a roster of potential airstrike sites within Venezuela, targeting military installations purportedly involved in drug trafficking.

This development follows a series of U.S. actions against suspected drug trafficking vessels in both the Caribbean and Pacific regions. These operations have sparked legal debates, with certain Democratic legislators, who have received briefings on the matter, asserting that the Defense Department lacks clarity on the identities of those targeted.

The recent operations took place in international waters, and any intervention within Venezuelan territory would mark a drastic increase in military engagement.

The administration has also moved warships and a carrier group closer to Venezuela, with the president saying earlier in the month that he has also authorized covert CIA actions in the country.

Trump has said the strikes are part of his efforts to combat drug trafficking and the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. However, there are fears the goal is regime change and the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Officials have called Venezuela a hotbed of terrorist activity and suggested Maduro is involved in drug trafficking efforts, something he has denied.

Trump has said he does not need to consult Congress to conduct strikes against drug traffickers but would notify lawmakers ahead of strikes.

Congress has the sole power to declare war, but Trump said he would not seek a declaration and voiced his opinion that no lawmakers would disagree with his plans.

As tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela have risen, the Washington Post reported Maduro has reached out to Russia, China and Iran seeking assistance and military equipment.

Venezuela and Russia have long-standing ties, but with the war in Ukraine continuing to drag on, Moscow may not have the capacity to offer much assistance.

It’s not clear how any of the leaders have responded to such pleas.