By Brendan ColeShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberPresident Donald Trump has said the United States is preparing to take new action against alleged drug trafficking networks in Venezuela, with strikes on land set to start "very soon."
Speaking to U.S. military members on Thursday, Trump praised the recent actions "to deter Venezuelan drug traffickers," involving strikes against boats allegedly carrying narcotics, and a significant military build-up in the Caribbean.
But Trump hinted at more direct action against Venezuela on Thursday. He said his campaign had hampered the drug trade by sea, "and we’ll be starting to stop them by land also," adding: "the land is easier, but that’s going to start very soon."
Newsweek has contacted the Venezuelan foreign ministry for comment.
...Why It Matters
Trump's comments will raise questions about his intentions for the U.S. military in the region, where more than a dozen warships and 15,000 troops have been amassed as part of "Operation Southern Spear." U.S. troops have carried out at least 21 strikes on alleged drug boats since September, killing at least 83 people, according to Reuters.
CNN reported earlier this month that Trump administration officials told lawmakers that the U.S. was not planning to launch strikes inside Venezuela. But Trump’s latest comments suggest that he is planning a more direct strike on Venezuela.
What To Know
Trump said on Thursday that the U.S. was preparing to take new action against alleged drug trafficking networks in Venezuela, and praised U.S. troops for recent efforts to combat the narcotics trade.
"You probably noticed that people aren't wanting to be delivering (drugs) by sea, and we'll be starting to stop them by land also," he said. "We warn them: stop sending poison to our country."
In October, CNN reported that the Trump administration produced a classified legal opinion that justified lethal strikes against suspected drug traffickers.
However, U.S. lawmakers had also been told this month that the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel said there was no legal justification for strikes inside Venezuela itself or any other territories, according to CNN.
It comes just days after the U.S. State Department officially designated the Venezuela-based Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization. Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro is accused by the U.S. of heading the group.
The U.S. claimed the cartel was "responsible for terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe."
Caracas denies Maduro and other political, judicial and military figures run the cartel de los Soles.
What People Are Saying
Senator Cory Booker wrote on X on Wednesday: "Invading Venezuela will do nothing to protect the United States and directly puts American lives at risk. We must stand up now and stop President Trump from dragging us into war with Venezuela."
What Happens Next
Trump's comments add to anticipation about a possible an escalation in U.S. pressure on Maduro’s regime.
Maduro said this week that Venezuelans "must be ready to defend every inch of of this blessed land from imperialist threat or aggression."
Update 11/28/25, 04.40 a.m. ET: This article was updated with further information.
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