US Pushes Back Against Venezuelan Regime
President Donald Trump warned that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s “days are numbered” in a 60 Minutes interview, citing the dictator’s role in drug trafficking, crime, and mass migration to the United States. Trump said Maduro’s government has sent not only migrants but also prisoners and patients from mental institutions into the U.S., fueling crime linked to gangs like Tren de Aragua and Cartel de Los Soles.
Historic Military Deployment
Backing his rhetoric, the U.S. has deployed the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, nuclear submarines, guided-missile destroyers, and over 10,000 troops to the Caribbean — the largest American military presence in the region in over 35 years. Eight warships are currently in place, soon increasing to 14, while military aircraft from fighter jets to B-52 bombers operate out of the rebuilt Roosevelt Roads naval base in Puerto Rico.
Maduro Faces Isolation and Economic Collapse
Maduro, in power since 2013 despite disputed elections in 2019 and 2023, remains defiant amid international sanctions, economic collapse, and growing isolation. Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado said millions of Venezuelans would return home if Maduro is ousted.
Operations Against Drug Trafficking
Since August, U.S. forces have conducted at least 14 strikes on suspected drug boats, killing more than 60 alleged narcoterrorists. Trump emphasized the operations prevent thousands of American deaths and hinted the U.S. could expand efforts to target land-based cartels in Venezuela.
Trump did not rule out further action but suggested the U.S. might achieve regime change without a full-scale war.
“I doubt we’re going to war with Venezuela,” he said, leaving the exact next steps unspecified.
For more on Venezuela affairs under Trump’s second administration, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.