Trump Administration Holds Internal Talks on Potential Aggression Against Venezuela
High-level security meetings coincide with a major U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean as regional governments warn of destabilization risks.
United States, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Senior Trump administration officials have held internal discussions on possible aggression against Venezuela, Reuters reported Friday, as the United States increases naval and air deployments amid rising backlash across the region.
According to four U.S. officials and an additional source familiar with the matter, the Homeland Security Council met three times this week — including an expanded session on Thursday attended by President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine. Trump was reportedly briefed on several military options.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, the U.S. president suggested a decision could be imminent, saying: “I can’t tell you what it would be, but I sort of made up my mind” regarding Venezuela.
Yet Trump also said, “We made a lot of progress with Venezuela in terms of stopping drugs from pouring in,” leaving his intentions unclear.
Washington continues to accuse President Nicolas Maduro’s government of drug-related crimes — allegations Caracas denies, noting that Western media have repeatedly refuted such claims.
Major U.S. Military Buildup Sparks Legal and International Concerns
The consultations come as the U.S. positions significant military assets in the southern Caribbean, including the USS Gerald R. Ford strike group with more than 75 aircraft, over 5,000 personnel, F-35 jets, additional warships, and a nuclear submarine near Venezuela.
This escalation follows two months of lethal U.S. strikes on boats allegedly tied to drug trafficking, killing around 80 people. Legal experts, lawmakers, and governments — including France — have questioned the legality of the operations, warning they may constitute extrajudicial executions.
A Reuters visual investigation also revealed that the U.S. military is upgrading a former Cold War–era naval base in Puerto Rico, indicating preparations for sustained operations that could support potential actions inside Venezuela.
Venezuela Mobilizes Forces as Regional Rift Deepens
Venezuela is mobilizing troops and repositioning Russian-made weapons, preparing for asymmetric warfare if the U.S. launches an attack. President Maduro has accused Washington of attempting to impose regime change.
In August, the Trump administration doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million, heightening tensions further.
Public support inside the United States remains low: 35% support using force to stop drug flows, and only 29% back targeting suspected traffickers at sea.
The crisis has strained U.S.-Colombia relations. President Gustavo Petro condemned the U.S. strikes as “murder,” prompting Trump to label him an “illegal drug leader” and impose sanctions on Colombia. In response, Colombia halted intelligence sharing with Washington.
Regional leaders — including European allies — warn that Washington’s military buildup risks destabilizing northern Latin America during a period of severe political and economic fragility. (PW)
Source: Al-Ahed