According to Trump, the US is preparing for military action against Venezuelan drug ships.
President Donald Trump is increasingly intensifying military pressure, stating that the US could "very soon" begin targeting Venezuelan drug traffickers on land, expanding operations that have so far focused on the maritime area of the Caribbean.
In statements made on Thanksgiving Day to American troops worldwide, Trump thanked the 7th Bomb Wing of the Air Force for their work "to stop the Venezuelan drug traffickers" and added that "they've stopped approximately 85% of the trafficking on the sea... and very soon we're going to start stopping them on land too."
"The land is easier too, but that is going to be starting very soon," the president said, speaking from his Mar-a-Lago estate.
They are waiting for today
The statements come as Trump is considering taking military action against Venezuela, as part of the campaign his administration has launched against the drug trade. Senior US military officials have also made recent visits to Caribbean leaders.
For months, the president has intensified the American military presence in the region, increasing pressure on Venezuela with attacks on drug vessels since September. The military has carried out almost two dozen attacks on vessels that they claim were carrying drugs, killing at least 82 people.
The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, one of the largest aircraft carriers in the US Navy, arrived in the Caribbean last week, completing the build-up of US military forces in the area, which has not been observed for decades.
Furthermore, last week, the US designated the Cartel de los Soles, an organization that Washington claims is run by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, as a foreign terrorist organization. Maduro has denied any connection to the drug trade and accuses the US of "inventing" a war against him.
How likely is a land attack?
The Trump administration is intensifying military pressure, raising concerns about a possible military operation inside Venezuela, while some estimate that they may proceed with land attacks to increase the pressure.
Although he is increasing military pressure, Trump has stated that he could have negotiations with Maduro, hinting at a possible diplomatic exit to de-escalate the rising tensions.
"I may talk to him," Trump said this week, while on Air Force One. "We'll see. We're discussing it with a number of partners."
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday that "you can expect these attacks against drug traffickers to continue."
In his remarks, Trump also communicated with members of other military services, offering to answer "any question they want." Military members praised him, recounted stories, and asked questions about his presidency, with one Marine from Camp Santiago, Puerto Rico, reporting that his battalion was ready to support the president's operation against the "narco-terrorists."
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