U.S. President Donald Trump has renewed his accusations that Venezuela is sending gang members and drugs to the United States, stating that such actions are 'not acceptable'. The tension between the two nations escalates as the U.S. has deployed warships to the Southern Caribbean for counter-narcotics operations.
As part of these operations, the U.S. launched an attack on a boat allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela, resulting in the deaths of all eleven individuals onboard. When questioned about potential strikes on mainland Venezuela, Trump stated, 'We'll see what happens.'
In a press briefing in New Jersey, Trump claimed that Venezuela was 'sending us their gang members, their drug dealers and drugs', and noted a significant reduction in maritime traffic since the recent strikes.
Experts have raised concerns regarding the legality of the September 2 operation, suggesting it may infringe upon international law. In response, two days later, Venezuela reacted by sending F-16 fighter jets over a U.S. Navy destroyer, prompting Trump to issue a warning against Venezuelan jets that could create 'dangerous situations'.
Further complications arose when Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil accused U.S. forces of illegally boarding a Venezuelan vessel, which they described as 'small' and 'harmless'. Gil suggested that the U.S. was seeking to fabricate an incident to justify a military escalation in the Caribbean aimed at regime change in Venezuela.
The U.S. and numerous other nations, including the UK, have not recognized Nicolás Maduro's re-election, citing evidence of electoral fraud. U.S. officials have gone so far as to accuse Maduro of leading a drug cartel and have offered a $50 million reward for information leading to his capture.
Maduro has denied these allegations, branding U.S. actions as imperialist. He has called upon Venezuelans to join the militia—a civilian force previously utilized for political rallies—amid reported pressures on public sector workers to enlist.
