The American President Donald Trump threatened that the United States may “strike Venezuelan territory if necessary”, in addition to targeting maritime vessels, claiming the objective is to stop the flow of narcotics from Venezuela to the United States.
Trump’s statements came after a cabinet meeting that lasted nearly two hours and was broadcast live from the White House, where he responded to journalists’ questions on current issues.
He also addressed the intensifying pressure exerted by the US military on Venezuela, along with the operations targeting vessels accused of “transporting narcotics” in the Caribbean region.
Trump affirmed his country’s determination to combat the narcotics he alleged are reaching American soil from countries such as Venezuela and Colombia by all possible means. He noted that they will do everything necessary to achieve that goal and that he has granted the Pentagon full authority in this regard.
He continued, “I want to eliminate those ships off the coast of Venezuela. If necessary, we will carry out an attack on Venezuelan territory just as we do at sea. Very little is coming from the sea now. I think we have destroyed more than 90 percent of it.”
He explained, “We will begin these attacks from land as well. As you know, land operations are much easier. We know the routes they use, we know everything about them, we know where they live, and we will begin very soon. Anyone who produces narcotics and sells them to our country will be targeted by this operation.”
Trump mentioned the names of Venezuela and Colombia multiple times, alleging that the two countries are responsible for the majority of narcotics reaching the United States.
He also answered journalists’ questions regarding allegations about issuing an order for a second strike on a vessel “believed to be carrying narcotics” off the Venezuelan coast on 2 September, which resulted in the killing of two individuals who clung to the vessel after the first strike ignited a fire.
The American President confirmed that he has given the Pentagon and the Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth, full authority in combating narcotics and that he stands behind the mentioned attacks.
He noted that he does not know the details regarding the two injured survivors of the first strike who were killed in the second, but claimed that the strike aligns with the relevant laws.
For his part, Secretary of Defence Hegseth stated that Admiral Frank Bradley was fully authorised to carry out the second strike and that it was not possible at that moment to know the details of injured individuals being present.
Tensions have escalated recently between the United States and Venezuela. Last August, President Donald Trump issued an executive order increasing the deployment of the military under the pretext of “combating drug cartels” in Latin America.
