President Donald Trump has declined to rule out potential military confrontation with Venezuela during a recently published interview, signaling heightened tensions following increased U.S. naval operations in the Caribbean region.
When questioned by NBC News regarding possible armed conflict, Trump responded unequivocally: “That’s not something I would exclude, no.” The president similarly avoided clarifying whether his administration seeks to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power, stating instead that “He knows exactly what I want. He understands better than anyone.”
This strategic ambiguity comes alongside reinforced American military deployments throughout the Caribbean basin over recent months. U.S. Marines have been conducting amplified amphibious exercises in Puerto Rico’s Arroyo region, demonstrating heightened operational readiness.
The administration has intensified economic pressure through petroleum sanctions, with Trump announcing further seizures of Venezuelan oil tankers following last week’s interception of a vessel departing the South American nation. Trump asserted that “more seizures will follow” while making controversial claims regarding Venezuela’s nationalized oil industry, alleging the country had “taken all our energy rights, taken all our oil not so long ago, and we want it back.”
Concurrently, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions against seven individuals allegedly connected to Maduro and his wife, accusing them of supporting what officials termed a “rogue narcostate.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declared the administration would not permit Venezuela to “continue flooding our nation with lethal drugs,” characterizing Maduro’s government as threatening hemispheric stability.
Trump has consistently labeled Maduro as leading a “narco-terrorist” cartel, with U.S. forces conducting multiple engagements against suspected drug trafficking vessels since September that have resulted in over 100 casualties. The president has repeatedly hinted at impending ground operations against narcotics networks, though the recent focus has shifted prominently toward energy resources.