U.S. weighs military and diplomatic options as pressure on Venezuela escalates
The United States is signaling increased pressure on Venezuela, though President Donald Trump’s exact intentions remain unclear.
(CNN)- The United States is signaling increased pressure on Venezuela, though President Donald Trump’s exact intentions remain unclear. That ambiguity may be deliberate, but what is known is that the U.S. has built up significant military and intelligence resources in the region — and the president has authorized the CIA to operate inside the country.
Officials say President Trump has been briefed multiple times in recent days on a range of options. Those options include potential air strikes on military or government facilities, targeting drug trafficking routes, and even exploring ways to directly remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
Despite those possibilities, the president suggested Sunday that diplomacy may still be on the table. This came hours after Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the U.S. intends to designate the Cartel de los Soles — a group led by Maduro — as a foreign terrorist organization.
When asked whether that designation would allow the U.S. to target Maduro’s assets or infrastructure inside Venezuela, President Trump said it does open that door — but stressed no final decisions have been made. “We may be having some discussions with Maduro,” the president added. “They would like to talk.”
Defense experts say the U.S. military presence in the region is already substantial. More than 15,000 U.S. personnel are stationed nearby, along with over a dozen warships, 10 F-35 fighter jets and the USS Gerald R. Ford — the world’s largest aircraft carrier — which arrived in Caribbean waters on Sunday.
Officially, the administration says its mission is to crack down on illegal drug trafficking. But any action could have broader consequences, potentially accelerating regime change in Venezuela. Analysts warn that removing Maduro would carry enormous risks, including uncertainty about who might take power and the level of long-term U.S. commitment required.
President Trump is weighing those factors as he returns to Washington to begin the work week.
