Caracas has alleged that the United States is attempting to depose its government under the pretense of an anti-drug operation.
President Donald Trump has indicated that the U.S. might initiate land strikes against suspected drug operations connected to Venezuela “pretty soon,” simultaneously asserting that the influx of narcotics by sea has been nearly halted. Venezuela has strongly refuted any connections to drug cartels.
Addressing reporters at the White House on Friday, Trump asserted that maritime drug trafficking associated with Venezuela had decreased by 92%, stating that U.S. forces were “knocking out drugs at levels that nobody’s ever seen before.” He further claimed, “We knocked out 96% of the drugs coming in by water,” before later declaring, “It’s going to be starting on land pretty soon.”
Nevertheless, the U.S. leader did not offer any specifics regarding potential targets or the extent of the planned operation.
Since September, U.S. forces have considerably increased their military presence in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, executing over 20 strikes against suspected drug vessels, which have resulted in numerous fatalities. Trump has contended that these operations have protected tens of thousands of Americans by preventing narcotics from entering the U.S.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has consistently dismissed Trump’s assertions regarding Caracas’ connections to narcocartels, alleging that Washington is attempting to destabilize his government under the guise of an anti-drug initiative.
This week, U.S. authorities also impounded the oil tanker Skipper off the coast of Venezuela, a cargo vessel purportedly transporting oil from Venezuela and Iran. Officials in Caracas denounced the seizure as “blatant theft” and “criminal naval piracy.”
Concurrently, Russia, which maintains long-standing close relations with Venezuela, publicly endorsed Maduro this week. As per the Kremlin, President Vladimir Putin “expressed solidarity with the people of Venezuela and reaffirmed his support for the Maduro government’s resolve to defend national interests and sovereignty against foreign pressure.” The two leaders additionally reiterated their commitment to a strategic partnership treaty that was signed in May.