U.S. President Donald Trump has been given military options for potential operations inside Venezuela, according to sources familiar with a recent National Security briefing. The options reportedly range from airstrikes on government or military facilities to targeting drug-trafficking routes, or even a direct attempt to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. However, officials emphasized that the presentation does not necessarily mean Trump is leaning toward a full-scale intervention.
This escalation comes amid a growing U.S. military presence in the Caribbean under the new initiative dubbed “Operation Southern Spear.” The mission, formally announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and supported by U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), is designed to counter narcotics trafficking by “narco-terrorists” and secure the U.S. homeland from the flow of drugs, according to U.S. officials.
Hegseth hailed the launch of the operation on social media, stating that a Joint Task Force has been activated to lead the campaign. He framed it as a critical mission to “defend our Homeland, remove narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secure our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people.”
The timing of the briefing coincides with reports of intensified U.S. strikes at sea. It follows at least 20 U.S. military attacks on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific since September, which the U.S. says target drug trafficking networks. International law experts and some foreign governments have raised concerns over the legality of such operations, especially when conducted in international waters.
Part of the buildup includes the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford strike group — one of America’s most powerful aircraft carrier battle groups — to the region. The ship’s presence adds considerable firepower and suggests the U.S. is keeping a wide range of military options on the table.
In response to the U.S. military buildup, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has ordered a “massive deployment” of his own forces, placing the country’s military on a state of maximum alert. Critics argue the U.S. campaign may be more than an anti-drug operation, warning it could be a veiled effort to pressurize Maduro or possibly force a regime change.
Whether Trump will greenlight a larger campaign remains uncertain. Even as national security officials lay out options, legal questions persist, and the risks of escalation are clear. For now, the world watches closely as Southern Spear marks an increasingly tense chapter in U.S.-Venezuela relations.
References
- U.S. announces ‘Southern Spear’ mission as forces deploy near South America — Al Jazeera Al Jazeera
- Full escalation of campaign against ‘narco-terrorism’ revealed — El País EL PAÍS English
- What military force has the U.S. positioned off Venezuela’s coast? — Al Jazeera Al Jazeera
