President Donald Trump has signalled that the United States could soon launch land-based military operations against alleged drug traffickers from Venezuela, expanding beyond the current naval strikes. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Trump stated, 'The land is going to be next,' and suggested he might seek congressional approval, though he added, 'I can’t imagine they’d have any problem with it.'
The administration has conducted nine strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific, killing at least 37 people. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth justified the actions by labelling the traffickers as terrorists, posting on social media that 'these cartels are waging war on our border and our people.' He vowed 'no refuge or forgiveness – only justice.'
Trump denied a Wall Street Journal report that B-1 bombers had been flown near Venezuela earlier in the day. Some analysts speculate the anti-narcotics efforts are a pretext for ousting President Nicolás Maduro, whom Trump has called a 'narco-terrorist.'
Democrats and some Trump supporters have questioned the strikes. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) criticised the approach, asking on MSNBC, 'How often has regime change worked out well for the United States?' He warned it puts American lives at risk and makes the country less safe.
