Trump Signals Talks with Maduro Amid U.S. Military Buildup in Venezuela
U.S. president hints at direct talks while refusing to rule out military action.
President Donald Trump stunned reporters in the Oval Office on Monday by revealing he will soon speak directly with Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro, even as the U.S. dramatically escalates its military presence across the Caribbean. Flanked by the presidential seal, Trump said, “At a certain period of time, I’ll be talking to him,” but immediately added that Maduro “has not been good to the United States” and accused Caracas of deliberately emptying its prisons and sending “hundreds of thousands” of criminals across the U.S. southern border.
When pressed on whether American boots on the ground in Venezuela are off the table, Trump was unequivocal: “No, I don’t rule out that. I don’t rule out anything.” He justified the hard-line posture by claiming Washington must “take care of Venezuela,” citing the recent deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group, B-2 stealth bombers, and dozens of warships as necessary to dismantle what the administration now officially designates the “Cartel de los Soles” terrorist drug organization led, Trump insists, by Maduro himself.
The Pentagon buildup has already triggered fury in Caracas, with Maduro accusing the U.S. of plotting an invasion under the guise of counter-narcotics operations. Venezuela’s defense minister warned that any incursion would meet “immediate and forceful resistance,” while state television aired footage of anti-aircraft drills along the coast. Meanwhile, opposition sources close to María Corina Machado claim the pressure is causing cracks inside Maduro’s regime, with some military officers quietly exploring exit strategies.
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Trump’s threats weren’t limited to Venezuela. Asked point-blank if he would authorize unilateral U.S. military strikes inside Mexico to destroy fentanyl labs and cartel strongholds, the president replied, “It’s OK with me. Whatever we have to do to stop drugs.” He boasted such operations would “save millions of lives” and insisted he would be “proud” to order them, marking a sharp escalation from previous administrations that relied on bilateral cooperation with Mexico City.
As the region braces for what could be the most confrontational U.S. policy toward Latin America in decades, Trump’s twin signals—offering talks while brandishing overwhelming military force—leave both Maduro and Mexico’s leadership guessing whether the next phone call will bring a deal or a declaration of war.
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