US President Donald Trump has denied that the United States is planning military strikes inside Venezuela, despite the presence of American naval and air force assets in the Caribbean region. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said there are no plans for direct military action, countering recent speculation in U.S. media.
The statement comes after earlier remarks in which Trump suggested he might act without seeking congressional approval to target individuals he accused of drug trafficking. The U.S. has since deployed thousands of personnel, fighter aircraft, and multiple warships, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, near Venezuela’s coastline, raising concerns about potential conflict.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also dismissed reports that Washington was preparing to strike Venezuela, calling such claims inaccurate. Rubio criticized a report alleging that American forces were “poised to hit Venezuela,” referring to it as misinformation.
Meanwhile, U.S. military operations in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific are drawing global attention. Over recent weeks, U.S. forces have destroyed several vessels and killed dozens of people in operations described by Washington as anti-drug efforts. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Tur,k has condemned the actions, calling them unacceptable and urging the U.S. to prevent further extrajudicial killings.
A recent YouGov poll shows declining American public support for the naval deployment near Venezuela. Approval has dropped from 36 percent in September to 30 percent in the most recent survey, while 37 percent say they disapprove of the growing military presence.
In Venezuela, President Nicolás Maduro has accused the U.S. of creating false justifications for conflict, saying his country does not produce the raw materials used in cocaine and rejecting Washington’s drug trafficking allegations. He described the U.S. approach as an attempt to push the region toward long-term instability.
The situation has prompted neighboring Trinidad and Tobago to increase military readiness, placing forces on high alert and recalling personnel to base after Venezuela suspended a major gas agreement between the two nations.
Meanwhile, members of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee from both major parties have requested clarification from the Pentagon regarding the legality and purpose of the recent operations. They say they have yet to receive a response.
The regional situation remains tense as diplomatic and military movements continue, with both international organizations and neighboring countries calling for restraint and transparency.
