ALWAGHT- Amid escalating tensions and expanded US military deployments in the Caribbean, President Donald Trump hinted at potential dialogue with Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro.
US President Donald Trump signaled on Sunday that possible discussions could take place with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, amid rising tensions and a growing US military presence in the Caribbean. His remarks followed the designation of the Venezuela-based Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, a move he said would allow Washington to target infrastructure allegedly linked to Maduro’s government. Trump also directed senior officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to brief Congress on efforts to curb narcotics trafficking from Mexico and Venezuela.
At the same time, the US has intensified military operations in the Caribbean and the Pacific, expanding deployments under the justification of counter-narcotics operations. Assets such as the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier, warships, submarines, drones, and Marine units have been positioned in the region. According to US Southern Command, these operations are part of a directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to dismantle criminal networks deemed threats to US national security.
In parallel, Washington has launched a new regional military initiative called Operation Southern Spear, framed as part of the Trump administration’s “war on drugs” but widely criticized as a vehicle for regime-change efforts in Venezuela. The campaign, which uses advanced robotic maritime and aerial technologies, began with a strike on a Venezuelan vessel in September and has expanded with at least 21 attacks resulting in 82 reported deaths. Tensions continue to escalate as US militarization in Latin America intensifies.
