President Donald Trump has decisively rejected claims that the United States is planning or has authorized military strikes against Venezuela. The White House has strongly refuted these reports, characterizing them as ‘baseless’ and confirming that any official military announcements would originate solely from the President. Trump, when questioned by reporters, explicitly denied authorizing such actions. This follows intelligence suggesting Washington might be preparing strikes on Venezuelan military sites.
The U.S. has reportedly conducted numerous strikes on small boats in regional waters since early September, part of what officials describe as targeted anti-drug operations. The deployment of naval assets, including guided missile destroyers and an aircraft carrier strike group, further reinforces U.S. military presence in Latin America. These operations are framed as a counter-narcotics campaign, with U.S. officials accusing the Maduro regime of facilitating drug trafficking. Trump had previously hinted at expanding operations, suggesting further actions beyond maritime interdictions.
Internally, Venezuela’s political landscape remains fractured, with opposition leaders reportedly divided on the prospect of U.S. intervention. President Nicolas Maduro, who denies U.S. indictments related to drug trafficking and corruption, has denounced the reports as a U.S. attempt to oust him, vowing that Venezuela’s military and citizens would fight against any foreign aggression.