Executive Summary
- President Trump announced an imminent expansion of counter-narcotics operations to include land-based targets.
- The U.S. has recently designated the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization.
- Significant military assets, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, have been deployed to the Caribbean.
- Despite military tensions, President Trump indicated he may be open to speaking with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that the United States plans to expand its counter-narcotics campaign against alleged Venezuelan traffickers to include land-based operations "very soon." Speaking during a Thanksgiving teleconference with U.S. troops from his Mar-a-Lago estate, the President indicated a strategic pivot from the current maritime-focused interdictions to terrestrial targets.
Addressing the Air Force’s 7th Bomb Wing, President Trump noted that current efforts have successfully disrupted traffic at sea. "It’s about 85% stopped by sea … and we’ll be starting to stop them by land," he said. He further remarked that while land operations present different logistical realities, the initiative is set to commence shortly.
The announcement follows a period of intensified U.S. military presence in the Caribbean. The administration has deployed the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to the region and conducted over 20 airstrikes on vessels suspected of transporting narcotics since September. These operations are part of a broader campaign aimed at pressuring the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Washington recently designated the "Cartel de los Soles," which officials allege is run by Maduro, as a foreign terrorist organization.
Despite the escalation in military posture, President Trump suggested that diplomatic avenues might remain open. "I might talk to him," Trump said regarding Maduro, noting that discussions were underway with various staff members. Concurrently, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed to reporters that military strikes on trafficking vessels would continue as planned.
Venezuelan President Maduro has consistently denied any involvement in the drug trade, accusing the U.S. of fabricating a war against his administration. NBC News previously reported that, according to narcotics experts and law enforcement officials, drug cartels operating in the Caribbean primarily traffic cocaine from South America to Europe, rather than to the United States.
Strategic and Geopolitical Outlook
The transition to land-based operations represents a significant escalation in the United States’ pressure campaign against the Maduro government. By expanding interdiction efforts beyond international waters, the administration is signaling a more aggressive stance in its enforcement of the Cartel de los Soles terrorist designation. This development raises critical questions regarding the geopolitical stability of the region and the operational scope of U.S. forces near the Venezuelan border. Furthermore, the simultaneous suggestion of diplomatic talks implies a strategy of leveraging military pressure to secure negotiating power. It is important to note that all individuals and entities accused of crimes, including foreign officials, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
