U.S. officials are reportedly preparing air strikes against Venezuelan ports and airports; Trump was asked aboard Air Force One and answered he had not decided to attack.
Will the U.S. Attack Venezuela?
According to the Miami Herald and Wall Street Journal, the Trump administration was reportedly set to strike military-controlled Venezuelan ports and airports. The Miami Herald warned that bombing could occur at any moment, while the WSJ suggested that such air attacks would pressure leader Nicolas Maduro to step down and represent a significant escalation beyond the current campaign of raids on suspected drug-trafficking boats.
The U.S. Drug Problem
Journalists said the targeted locations are used by the Soles drug cartel, which Trump claims is linked to Maduro. Trump has pledged to curb drug flows from Venezuela to the U.S., a problem that causes tens of thousands of American deaths annually. In 2024, approximately 80,000 drug-related deaths were recorded, a 27% decline from the 2023 peak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that synthetic opioids, mainly fentanyl, caused over 48,000 deaths last year, while cocaine claimed 22,000 lives.
Trump Declared He Won’t Attack
While aboard Air Force One, reporters asked President Trump whether he was considering an attack on Venezuela. He answered “no,” according to Yahoo News, and clarified that he had not made any decisions regarding potential military operations against the country.