RT.com
06 Sep 2025, 06:44 GMT+10
The US president is reportedly weighing options to hit cartels in a foreign countr
US President Donald Trump is considering carrying out strikes against drug cartels on Venezuelan soil, CNN reported on Friday, citing its sources familiar with the matter.
The reported deliberations come as the Pentagon deployed at least eight warships and one submarine in the eastern Caribbean.
According to CNN, Tuesday's missile strike on a boat allegedly smuggling drugs from Venezuela was just the first step in Trump's efforts to neutralize drug trafficking in the region and potentially topple Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro.
The US imposed sweeping sanctions on the socialist-ruled South American county during Trump's first term in office, targeting its oil trade and financial sector. Last month, Attorney General Pam Bondi doubled a reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50 million.
Although Trump denied plans of regime change on Friday, he described Venezuela's 2024 presidential election as "very strange." Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated earlier this week that the US would "take on drug cartels wherever they are."
Maduro has denied the accusations of involvement in drug trafficking and vowed to declare Venezuela "republic in arms" if attacked by the US.
"Just as it wasn't true that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, what they're saying about Venezuela isn't true either," Maduro said on Friday, referring to the rationale behind the 2003 US invasion of Iraq.
Get a daily dose of South America Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to South America Times.
More InformationDUBAI, U.A.E.: A ship is believed to have accidentally severed key internet cables in the Red Sea, disrupting online access across...
NANTES/PARIS: Protesters across France have staged disruptive demonstrations this week, blocking highways, burning barricades, and...
LONDON, UK - In a significant shift in policy, the British government has formally determined that Israel is not committing genocide...
LONDON, U.K.: Londoners faced another day of travel disruption on Tuesday as a strike by underground staff brought the capital's Tube...
PARIS, France: France has been thrust into fresh political turmoil after lawmakers voted to bring down Prime Minister François Bayrou's...
BANGKOK, Thailand: Thailand's Supreme Court ruled that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra must serve a one-year prison sentence...
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina: Argentine President Javier Milei suffered a significant political blow on September 7 after his libertarian...
BOGOTA, Colombia: Colombia's Constitutional Court on September 4 upheld a 2024 law banning bullfights across the country, while going...
Washington [US], September 12 (ANI): Former US footballer Alexi Lalas said that he has been consulted for the White House FIFA World...
(Photo credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images) LAS VEGAS -- In a city that's been home to a majority of boxing's biggest fights, you'll...
(250912) -- SANTIAGO, Sept. 12, 2025 (Xinhua) -- A woman attends an event to pay homage to former Chilean President Salvador Allende...
(Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images) Top-seeded and World No. 27 Beatriz Haddad Maia had trouble getting to the finish line,...
