Donald Trump recently shocked with his ruthless course against drug cartels. Now there's a surprising turn. “No, that's not true,” the US president said on a flight to Florida in response to a question about whether he was planning military attacks in Venezuela. Previously, reputable American media such as the Miami Herald and the Wall Street Journal reported that the attack could happen at any moment.
But while the denial sounds emphatic, Trump's actions say otherwise.
According to numerous media and Pentagon reports, the United States is preparing for military exchange of blows with socialist Venezuela and its dictatorial leader Nicolas Maduro. At least they want to give the impression that they are ready to attack at any moment.
Since the beginning of September, the US Navy has been attacking boats allegedly carrying drugs originating from Venezuela. So far, 12 attacks have killed people in the Caribbean and Pacific 61 alleged drug traffickers. Most of them were Venezuelans.
However, US President Donald Trump may have even more far-reaching plans.
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Tension is rising
From September transfers military units to the Caribbean, mainly to San Juan, but also to Guantanamo Bay, to smaller island republics and directly to the coast of Venezuela. The transferred units include several warships, cutting-edge F-35 combat aircraft and MQ-9 Reaper combat drones.
On October 24, it was also announced that the aircraft carrier task force would be transferred from the Middle East to Central America.
In recent years, Venezuela, dependent on Russian technology, has significantly armed itself, especially in terms of air defense. It purchased two S-300 medium-range systems from Russia, 12 Buk-M2 short-range systems and over 5,000. portable Igla-S systems, making it better prepared than most other South American countries.
Nevertheless, experts see a clear balance of power.
US Navy destroyer USS Sampson in Panama, September 2, 2025 (stock photo)DANIEL GONZALEZ / AFP
“It's absolutely clear that it's forming here threat scenario. Maduro and his government should understand that America is determined to go to war with Venezuela if necessary. A war that Venezuela will obviously lose because its armed forces are much weaker, security expert Peter Neumann tells Bild.
United States before the next step
The expert explains that the United States has so far “only attacked drug boats in international waters.”
— It was not yet a direct attack on Venezuela. The second step would now be to say that we are attacking the infrastructure behind it. For example, specific ports where we know drug boats leave from there. Or specific military bases that may be complicit or where we know drugs are being loaded there, Neumann says.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented on media reports about the next step, calling them a “false story”. It is therefore possible that the United States is still interested in a diplomatic solution to the conflict with Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro claimed in October that the United States was “inventing a new forever war” against his country, referring to the Trump administration's decision to send additional troops to the Caribbean as part of a campaign against drug cartels.
“They promised they would no longer start wars, but they are inventing a war that we will avoid,” Maduro said in a speech broadcast on radio and television.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
