Trump Weighs Military Strikes Inside Venezuela, CNN Reports

U.S. President Donald J. Trump is considering a number of military options for strikes against “narco-terrorist cartels” operating in Venezuela, according to a report from CNN. The plan, which would involve potentially hitting targets inside the country, is part of a broader, more aggressive strategy aimed at weakening the hold of the Maduro regime and eventually removing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power. The report marks a significant escalation in U.S. policy and rhetoric towards Caracas, moving from economic and diplomatic pressure to the direct threat of military force on Venezuelan soil.
Sources briefed on the administration’s plans told CNN that the recent military strikes—including the lethal attack on a smuggling vessel in the southern Caribbean—are just the beginning of a larger effort. While the White House insists that its operations are focused on combating drug trafficking, the sources said a secondary objective is to put pressure on those around Maduro who benefit from the cartels’ illicit revenue streams. The goal is to squeeze them to the point where they consider ousting the Venezuelan leader themselves. One official said the message to the Maduro regime is: “Do you want it to be easy or do you want it to be hard?”
The military buildup in the Caribbean has been relentless, with the U.S. deploying an amphibious ready group, several destroyers, and a nuclear submarine to the region. This has been met with a furious response from Caracas, which has deployed its own warships and drones and called for its militia to prepare for a “republic in arms.” In an incident just yesterday, two Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets flew near a U.S. Navy destroyer in international waters, prompting a stern warning from the Pentagon.
Legal experts have questioned the legality of the U.S. actions, with some arguing that the strikes constitute an act of war under international law. However, the Trump administration has previously authorized the military to conduct lethal operations against cartels it designates as “terrorist groups,” claiming the power to treat suspected smugglers as enemy combatants rather than criminals. This move provides the administration with the legal framework it needs to continue its operations.
The potential for strikes inside Venezuela raises the stakes dramatically. A senior U.S. official, in an interview, said the U.S. would be prepared to “launch a wave of initial strikes using its long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, taking out as many of Venezuela’s defenses and assets that Caracas could use against U.S. forces.” Such a move would be a clear act of war and would risk a direct military conflict between the two countries, with unpredictable consequences for the entire region.