United States launches new phase of operations in Venezuela

(Patria) - The United States is ready to launch a new phase of operations related to Venezuela in the coming days, four U.S. officials told Reuters, as President Donald Trump's administration increases pressure on President Nicolas Maduro's government.

Reuters could not determine the exact timeline or scope of the new operations, nor whether Trump has made a final decision. Reports of upcoming actions have spread in recent weeks, as the U.S. military has deployed forces to the Caribbean amid deteriorating relations with Venezuela.

Two U.S. officials said covert operations would likely be the first part of the new action against Maduro. All four officials quoted in this article spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the upcoming U.S. action.

The Pentagon referred Reuters' questions to the White House. The CIA declined to comment.
A senior administration official on Saturday did not rule out anything regarding Venezuela.
"President Trump is ready to use every element of U.S. power to stop
drugs from entering our country and to bring those responsible to justice," he said, asking to remain
anonymous.

The Trump administration is considering options related to Venezuela to combat what it has portrayed as Maduro's role in supplying illegal drugs that have killed Americans.

He has denied any connection to the illegal drug trade. Two U.S. officials told Reuters that the options being considered included an attempt to overthrow Maduro.

Maduro, in power since 2013, has claimed that Trump wants to overthrow him and that the citizens of Venezuela and the military will resist any such attempt. He has also characterized U.S. actions as an attempt to take control of Venezuelan oil.
The military buildup in the Caribbean has been ongoing for months, and Trump has authorized covert CIA operations in Venezuela. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Friday warned major airlines of a "potentially dangerous situation" when flying over Venezuela and urged them to exercise caution.

Three international airlines canceled flights from Venezuela yesterday following the FAA warning.

The U.S. plans to declare the Cartel de los Soles a foreign terrorist organization on Monday for its alleged role in importing illegal drugs into the United States, officials said.

The Trump administration has accused Maduro of leading this cartel, which he denies.

Hegseth: New options after designation as terrorists

Washington doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50 million in August. However, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said last week that the terrorist designation "brings a whole new set of options to the United States."

Trump said the upcoming designation would allow the United States to attack Maduro's resources and infrastructure in Venezuela, but also indicated a willingness to potentially continue talks in hopes of reaching a diplomatic solution.

Maduro said earlier this week that differences between countries should be resolved diplomatically and that he is ready to talk face-to-face with anyone interested.
Two U.S. officials confirmed talks between Caracas and Washington. It was unclear whether those talks could affect the timing or scope of potential U.S. operations.

The U.S. Navy's largest aircraft carrier, the Gerald R. Ford, arrived in the Caribbean on November 16 with its strike group, where at least seven other warships, a nuclear submarine, and F-35 aircraft are already present.

U.S. forces in the region have so far focused on anti-narcotics operations, although the assembled firepower far exceeds anything required of them. U.S. troops have carried out at least 21 attacks on alleged drug smuggling vessels since September, killing at least 83 people, mostly in the Caribbean, although vessels in the Pacific Ocean have also been targeted.

Human rights groups have condemned the attacks as illegal extrajudicial killings of civilians, and some U.S. allies have expressed growing concern that Washington may be violating international law.

The Trump administration has claimed for months that the attacks on vessels are aimed at curbing drug trafficking that kills millions of Americans. However, most drug overdose deaths in the United States are caused by fentanyl, which is primarily produced in Mexico.

The U.S. military is significantly larger than Venezuela's, which has been weakened by a lack of training, low salaries, and deteriorating equipment. This reality has led Maduro's government to consider alternative strategies in case of a U.S. invasion, including a possible guerrilla response, which the government has called "prolonged resistance" and mentioned in state television broadcasts.

This would involve small military units at more than 280 locations carrying out sabotage and other guerrilla tactics, Reuters reported, citing sources and long-standing planning documents.