Trump Signals Impending Land Strikes In Venezuela Drug War: ‘That’s Going To Start Very Soon’
President Donald Trump indicated on Thursday that the U.S. military campaign against Venezuelan drug trafficking is poised to shift from maritime interdictions to ground-based operations.
Speaking to service members regarding the administration’s ongoing pressure campaign against the government of Nicolás Maduro, the president suggested that a tactical escalation involving land targets is imminent.
During a Thanksgiving call to U.S. troops stationed globally, Trump specifically addressed the Air Force’s 7th Bomb Wing, praising their efforts to “deter Venezuelan drug traffickers.” While highlighting the effectiveness of current naval operations, he pointed toward a new phase in the strategy.
“It’s about 85% stopped by sea … and we’ll be starting to stop them by land,” Trump said from his Florida estate. “Also, the land is easier, but that’s going to start very soon.”
The remarks signal a potential expansion of what the administration describes as a counter-narcotics operation. This follows months of intensified U.S. presence in the Caribbean, recently capped by the arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier—a deployment of force not seen in the region for decades.
Since early September, the U.S. military has executed nearly two dozen strikes on vessels suspected of transporting narcotics. Officials report these operations have resulted in at least 82 deaths. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed earlier this week that “you can expect to see those strikes continue.”
The administration has also ramped up legal pressure, recently designating the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization. Washington alleges the group is run by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro has consistently denied any links to the drug trade, characterizing the U.S. actions as a fabricated pretext for war.
Despite the aggressive posture and the movement of heavy military assets, mixed signals regarding diplomacy remain. While aboard Air Force One this week, Trump hinted that a direct dialogue with Caracas wasn’t entirely off the table.
“I might talk to him,” Trump said regarding Maduro. “We’ll see. We’re discussing this with different staff.”
During the holiday call military personnel expressed broad support for the administration’s directives. One Marine, speaking from Camp Santiago in Puerto Rico, told the president his battalion stands ready to support operations against narcoterrorists.
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