U.S. Considers Direct Strikes on Drug Cartels Inside Venezuela

There are growing predictions that the United States may directly strike drug cartels operating within Venezuelan territory.

According to major foreign media outlets such as CNN on September 5 (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump, who has declared a war on drug cartels, is reviewing a range of military operations, including the option of directly targeting cartels inside Venezuela.

The Trump administration has designated Venezuelan drug cartels smuggling fentanyl as terrorist organizations, enabling the use of military force. In fact, the United States recently bombed a drug transport vessel in the Caribbean Sea carrying 11 members of the Venezuelan drug cartel Tren de Aragua (TdA).

The United States has deployed seven warships, including one nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, to the Caribbean Sea. Additionally, it is reported that the U.S. will soon station 10 F-35 fighter jets in Puerto Rico, which borders Venezuela, to conduct operations against drug cartels.

This move is being interpreted as a warning from the United States to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The U.S. has identified President Maduro as the mastermind behind the Venezuelan drug cartels and has offered a $50 million (approximately 69.2 billion won) reward for information leading to his capture.

While President Trump has maintained an ambiguous stance regarding an attack on Venezuela, it is known that he is leaving the possibility open. According to sources, President Trump told security officials, "If there is an opportunity to eliminate terrorists, I will approve it immediately."

Recently, the White House also sent a letter to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Acting Senate President Chuck Grassley, explaining the bombing of the drug transport vessel in the Caribbean Sea. The letter stated that President Trump, as commander-in-chief, ordered the attack in accordance with his constitutional authority, and that the U.S. military is prepared to carry out additional military operations.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated, "The Maduro regime is not the legitimate government of Venezuela," adding, "Maduro is a fugitive indicted in the United States on drug trafficking charges and the ringleader of the cartel."