The United States is preparing for a new phase of operations related to Venezuela in the coming days, according to four American officials who spoke to Reuters, intensifying pressure on President Nicolás Maduro’s government. The agency could not determine the exact timing or scope of the potential operations, nor whether US President Donald Trump has made a final decision on action. Reports of imminent military activity have increased in recent weeks, while the US military has deployed forces in the Caribbean amid deteriorating bilateral relations with Venezuela.
Two American officials reported that the first stage of new operations against Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, would likely include covert actions. Reuters sources spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the pending military activity.
The Pentagon referred questions to the White House, while the CIA declined to comment. A senior Trump administration official did not rule out any options regarding Venezuela.
The White House accuses Maduro of involvement in drug trafficking to the United States, which he categorically denies. The Venezuelan president, who has been in power since 2013, has argued that Trump seeks to overthrow him and that the country’s citizens and military would resist any such attempt.
US: Military operations in Venezuela
An unprecedented American military buildup has been underway in the Caribbean for months, and Trump has approved covert CIA operations in Venezuela. The US Federal Aviation Administration warned major airlines on Friday of a “potentially dangerous situation” when flying over Venezuela and urged them to exercise caution.
The United States plans to designate the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization in the coming days for its alleged role in importing illegal drugs into the United States, and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that this designation could bring a whole range of new options to the US.
Trump had stated that the upcoming designation would allow the United States to strike Maduro’s assets and infrastructure in Venezuela, but has also shown willingness to continue talks in hopes of a diplomatic solution. Two American officials acknowledged that there have been talks between Caracas and Washington. It was unclear whether these talks could affect the timeline or scale of American operations.
The US Navy’s largest aircraft carrier, the Gerald R. Ford, arrived in the Caribbean on November 16 with its strike group, joining forces with at least seven other warships, a nuclear submarine, and F-35 aircraft.
American forces in the region have so far focused on actions against drug smugglers, although the concentrated firepower far exceeds anything needed for these operations. US forces have conducted at least 21 attacks on alleged drug transport vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific since September, killing at least 83 people.
Human rights organizations have condemned the attacks as illegal extrajudicial killings of civilians, and US allies have expressed concerns that Washington may be violating international law.
