Four U.S. officials told Reuters that the United States is preparing to launch a new phase of operations related to Venezuela in the coming days, as Washington escalates pressure on the government of President Nicolás Maduro.
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Reuters could not determine the exact timing or scale of the new operations, nor whether U.S. President Donald Trump has made a final decision regarding the move.
Reports of an imminent operation have circulated over the past few weeks, as the U.S. military deployed forces to the Caribbean amid deteriorating relations with Venezuela.
Two U.S. officials said the operations would likely constitute the first step in a new effort targeting Maduro.
The four officials requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the impending U.S. operations.
The Pentagon referred questions on the matter to the White House, which had not yet responded to requests for comment at the time. The CIA also declined to comment.
A senior U.S. administration official said Saturday that nothing is being ruled out with regard to Venezuela.
“The president is prepared to use every element of American power to stop the flow of narcotics into our country and bring those responsible to justice,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The Trump administration had been exploring options related to Venezuela to counter what it described as Maduro’s role in illicit drug trafficking that has resulted in American deaths. The Venezuelan president has denied any involvement in the drug trade.
Two U.S. officials told Reuters that the options under review included attempting to remove Maduro from power.
Maduro, who has been in office since 2013, has said that Trump is seeking to overthrow him, but that Venezuelan citizens and the military will resist any such attempt.
Military buildup in the Caribbean has been ongoing for months, and Trump approved CIA covert operations in Venezuela. On Friday, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration warned major airlines of a “potentially dangerous situation” when flying over Venezuela and urged caution.
Three international airlines canceled outbound flights from Venezuela on Saturday following the FAA warning.
Maduro said last week that disputes between the two countries should be resolved through diplomacy and that he was ready for face-to-face talks with anyone interested.
Two U.S. officials confirmed that discussions between Caracas and Washington were taking place. It was unclear whether these talks could affect the timing or scope of potential U.S. operations.
The U.S. Navy’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, arrived in the Caribbean on November 16 with its strike group, joining at least seven warships, a nuclear submarine, and F-35 aircraft.
U.S. forces in the region have focused on counter-narcotics missions, although the combined firepower far exceeds what is required for such operations.
Since September, U.S. forces have carried out at least 21 strikes on boats alleged to be transporting narcotics, killing at least 83 people—most of them in the Caribbean region, though targets in the Pacific Ocean were also hit.
Human rights groups have condemned the strikes as unlawful extrajudicial killings of civilians, and some U.S. allies have expressed growing concern that Washington may be violating international law.
Reuters
