US President says he has decided on the Venezuela issue

Over the past week, officials have presented President Trump with a variety of options for military operations inside Venezuela. At the same time, the US military has deployed more than a dozen warships and about 15,000 troops to the region as part of Operation Southern Spear.

Speaking on Air Force One on November 14, Mr. Trump said he “has made a decision,” although he declined to reveal specifics. He emphasized that the US goal is to reduce the flow of migrants and illegal drugs and consider the possibility of regime change in Venezuela.

US President Donald Trump. Photo: White House

On November 12, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine briefed the president. A broader national security team, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials, met with Mr. Trump the following day, according to a US official.

In two meetings, he was presented with potential targets, ranging from airstrikes on military installations, government agencies and drug trafficking routes, to more direct options. Mr. Trump is also considering strikes on cocaine production facilities and drug trafficking routes inside Venezuela.

Another possibility is that he takes no action. Last month, he announced that he had authorized CIA operations in Venezuela, but administration officials told Congress that the United States currently has no legal basis to attack a ground target. Mr. Trump recently told CBS’s “60 Minutes” that he was not considering an attack inside Venezuela, after previously leaving the option open.

In recent weeks, the US has concentrated naval forces in the Caribbean, conducting at least 20 attacks on vessels accused of transporting drugs.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, arrived in the region earlier this week. In total, the US has deployed about 15,000 troops, more than a dozen warships including cruisers, destroyers, missile defense command ships, amphibious assault ships and an attack submarine. In addition, 10 F-35s have been sent to Puerto Rico, which has become the US’s hub for operations in the Caribbean.

Experts say this level of reinforcement is “unprecedented” in the 21st century; the closest equivalent scale was the 1989 invasion of Panama.

Venezuela responded that it was undertaking a “massive mobilization” of military personnel, weapons and equipment.

Source: https://congluan.vn/tong-thong-my-noi-da-quyet-ve-van-de-venezuela-10317997.html