16.11.2025 17:07
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he has made a decision regarding a possible action plan for Venezuela. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One after receiving briefings throughout the week, Trump said, "I have pretty much made my decision, yes. I mean, I can't say what will happen, but I have kind of (made my decision)." Meanwhile, the U.S. military has deployed more than a dozen warships and approximately 15,000 troops to the region as part of an operation it calls "Operation Southern Strike."
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U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he has made a decision regarding a possible action plan against Venezuela after receiving high-level briefings throughout the week. Trump told reporters on Air Force One, "I have made my decision, yes. So, I can't say what will happen, but I have somewhat (made my decision)."
Officials reported that Trump was provided with detailed information about military operation options within Venezuela. These assessments included options to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, as well as the possibility of airstrikes on military targets, government buildings, and drug trafficking routes. It was previously noted that the U.S. had evaluated options to target cocaine production facilities and smuggling routes.
U.S. MILITARY DEPLOYS 15,000 TROOPS TO THE REGION
The U.S. military has deployed more than a dozen warships and approximately 15,000 troops to the region as part of an operation referred to by the Pentagon as "Operation Southern Spear." During this process, Trump stated that progress has been made in efforts to reduce illegal immigration and drug flow. The U.S. President emphasized that the region is in an unstable situation, expressing the possibility of a regime change.
MADURO COULD BE OVERTURNED DIRECTLY
A national security committee, including U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chief of Staff General Dan Caine, briefed Trump on Wednesday. The next day, a large team, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, met with Trump. In both meetings, the potential targets in Venezuela were comprehensively evaluated.
According to a report by the Washington Post, U.S. officials indicated that the options presented to Trump ranged from limited airstrikes on military facilities to the direct overthrow of Maduro. Officials noted that the possibility of completely abandoning any action was also among the options. Trump had stated last month that he allowed the CIA to operate in Venezuela. Meanwhile, officials had informed the U.S. Congress that there was no legal justification for attacking ground targets.
TRUMP IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF FAILURE
Sources close to the matter reported that Trump is wary of steps that could result in failure or put U.S. soldiers at risk. Speaking to CBS's "60 Minutes," Trump recently stated that he was not considering an attack on Venezuela. U.S. media reported that the White House administration continues to explore alternative scenarios outside of military intervention due to the risks of a possible operation. Recently, while answering reporters' questions on the presidential plane, Trump stated, "I have made my decision, yes. So, I can't say what will happen, but I have somewhat (made my decision)," announcing that the steps to be taken after the briefing meetings regarding Venezuela have been finalized. However, the U.S. President did not share information about what his decision was.
In recent weeks, the U.S. has intensified its military presence in the Caribbean, conducting at least 20 attacks. Officials claimed that the purpose of the operations is to prevent the flow of drugs to the U.S. Among the elements deployed to the region were various warships, air and missile defense platforms, and amphibious ships. The arrival of the world's largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, in the region also drew attention. The U.S. military has also expanded its military presence in the Caribbean by deploying 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico. Experts noted that the buildup in the region has reached a serious level, commenting that the shipments aim to increase operational capacity.
"THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION"
Eric Farnsworth, a Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, stated in an interview with CNN International, "I was surprised by both the scale and speed of the deployment. This is an unprecedented situation. This is the most significant military buildup the U.S. has made in South America in the 21st century. The closest example to this situation is the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989."
VENEZUELA INITIATES A LARGE-SCALE MOBILIZATION
Venezuela announced that it has initiated a "large-scale mobilization" in terms of military personnel and equipment. Experts assess that regime change in Venezuela carries high risks, but a successful operation could provide significant diplomatic leverage for the Trump administration. The U.S. recognizes Juan Guaido, who attempted a failed coup against Maduro, as the legitimate leader of the country. However, the process has not concluded due to the failure of the coup attempt in 2019.
MADURO: STOP THE WAR
On Friday, Maduro stated in Caracas that the U.S. military intervention could create "another Gaza," "a new Afghanistan," or "Vietnam again," and expressed: "Stop the crazy hand that orders bombing, death, and war to South America and the Caribbean. Stop the war. No to war."
The Dominican Republic announced last week that the Summit of the Americas was postponed after U.S. President Donald Trump announced he would not attend the summit. The Dominican Republic's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "Deep divisions... are currently hindering productive dialogue," announcing that the meeting would be rescheduled. According to officials, the tensions in the region played a role in the postponement of the summit. A senior Latin American official stated that the current atmosphere of the summit is "not conducive to any kind of friendly meeting" and added, "... The atmosphere... is simply toxic."
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