US President Donald Trump says he has “sort of made up” his mind on the next steps in Venezuela after receiving a series of high-level briefings this week, as American naval forces continue their buildup in the Caribbean.
According to CNN, senior officials presented Trump with a range of military options for potential operations inside Venezuela. The broadcaster, citing four US government officials, reported that Trump is assessing the risks and potential benefits of launching a campaign that could include efforts to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
Per CNN’s reporting, the administration outlined several possibilities, including targeted air strikes against Venezuelan military or government sites, as well as attacks on alleged drug-trafficking networks. Officials also reviewed more direct plans to “take out” Maduro during a meeting where Trump was shown specific target options.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said, “I sort of have made up my mind — yeah. I mean, I can’t tell you what it would be, but I sort of have,” as the US consolidated more than a dozen warships and some 15,000 troops in the region under “Operation Southern Spear.”
The comments followed a week of intensive consultations. On Wednesday, Trump met a small group of senior officials, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, for an in-depth military briefing. A day later, a broader national security group — including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other top advisers — convened with the President in the Situation Room.
In parallel, the United States has launched strikes on 21 alleged drug-smuggling boats in recent weeks, resulting in the deaths of at least 80 people. Washington has not provided evidence that those targeted were traffickers, and human rights observers argue the attacks are unlawful in any case.
Meanwhile, tensions have escalated further after Venezuela condemned new joint military exercises conducted by the United States and Trinidad and Tobago. Maduro described the drills as “irresponsible,” alleging that US military activity in the Caribbean — officially justified as counter-narcotics operations — is actually a cover for an attempt to unseat him.
This marks the second such joint training exercise between the US and Trinidad and Tobago in under a month. A US guided-missile destroyer also visited the islands in October for four days of drills, an action Venezuela labelled a “provocation.”
Maduro said on Saturday, “The government of Trinidad and Tobago has once again announced irresponsible exercises… intended to be threatening to a republic like Venezuela, which does not allow itself to be threatened by anyone.”
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