 "Washington accuses Maduro of heading a drug cartel and has deployed significant military assets. Reuters file")
US President Donald Trump on Friday confirmed a new strike on a drug-smuggling vessel linked to Venezuela, leaving survivors, as tensions between Washington and Caracas intensified. The strike forms part of a broader US military campaign launched in September, targeting alleged narcotics operations in the Caribbean .
Speaking at the White House, Trump said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had offered major concessions to ease hostilities. “He has offered everything, you’re right. You know why? Because he doesn’t want to f#ck around with the United States,” Trump remarked when asked about reports of potential de-escalation talks.
Washington accuses Maduro of leading a drug cartel and has deployed stealth aircraft and seven Navy ships for counter-narcotics missions. Maduro, accused of rigging last year’s elections, insists the US is plotting regime change.
Survivors, regional fallout, and leadership changes
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez dismissed a Miami Herald report claiming she had discussed Maduro’s removal with Washington. The latest strike, reportedly targeting a “drug-carrying submarine,” left survivors now held by the US Navy, according to CBS and NBC.
The US says such semi-submersible vessels are built in jungle shipyards to transport large cocaine shipments from South America to Central America or Mexico. Officials claim the campaign is crippling drug trafficking, but critics note no proof the 27 people killed so far were traffickers. Legal experts also warn such killings violate international law.
Neighbouring nations are being drawn into the fallout. Police in Trinidad and Tobago are probing whether two of their citizens died in Wednesday’s strike, while Colombian President Gustavo Petro believes Colombians were also among the dead.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsA defiant Trump has pledged to expand operations and hinted at authorising CIA covert actions and possible land strikes. B-52 bombers recently circled Venezuela’s coast, reinforcing speculation of escalation. In response, Venezuela deployed 17,000 troops to Tachira state and reinforced southern and coastal borders.
Amid these developments, the head of US Southern Command announced his retirement after only a year in the role, continuing a recent pattern of rapid leadership changes within top military ranks.