Trump announces imminent US land action against alleged drug trafficking networks in Venezuela

President Donald Trump indicated on Thursday that the United States may soon launch new operations targeting alleged drug trafficking networks in Venezuela. Speaking to military personnel during a Thanksgiving call, Trump stated that actions on land would commence "very soon."

"In recent weeks, your efforts have been aimed at deterring Venezuelan drug traffickers, and there are many of them. Naturally, fewer are attempting to enter by sea now," Trump told the troops.

He added, "It seems people are hesitant to deliver drugs by sea, and soon we will begin stopping them on land as well. Land operations are easier, and they will start shortly."

Trump also warned, "We caution them: Stop sending poison into our country."

The presidents remarks indicate he has likely decided on a strategy in Venezuela following several high-level briefings and a notable U.S. military buildup in the region earlier this month.

This week, Trump labeled Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro and his associates as members of a foreign terrorist organization. The designation of the so-called "Cartel de los Soles," a term experts describe as referring more to allegedly corrupt officials than a formal crime syndicate, allows Trump to impose new sanctions targeting Maduro's assets and infrastructure. However, legal experts note it does not explicitly permit lethal force.

The U.S. military currently has over a dozen warships and approximately 15,000 troops deployed under "Operation Southern Spear." As part of the anti-drug campaign, more than 80 individuals have been killed in maritime strikes.

Earlier this month, CNN reported that Trump administration officials informed lawmakers in a classified session that no strikes inside Venezuela were planned and there is no legal basis to justify attacks on land targets at this time. Four sources said a Justice Department opinion authorizing strikes on suspected drug vessels does not extend to Venezuelan territory.

Officials, however, did not rule out potential future actions. The administration has largely kept Congress out of its Latin America military operations. A senior Justice Department official told lawmakers in November that the U.S. military could continue lethal actions against alleged traffickers without congressional approval, and the administration is not constrained by the decades-old War Powers Act.

Analysis: U.S. Strategy Shift in Venezuela's Drug War

President Donald Trump’s recent statements signal a notable escalation in U.S. military operations targeting drug trafficking networks in Venezuela. Following weeks of increasing pressure on Venezuelan authorities and a large military presence in the region, Trump's remarks suggest a more direct confrontation with drug cartels operating on land. The announcement of upcoming land operations reflects a tactical shift in the ongoing anti-drug campaign, which has thus far relied heavily on maritime strikes.

The U.S. military presence under "Operation Southern Spear," which currently includes over a dozen warships and around 15,000 troops, is part of a broader strategy to curb the flow of drugs into the U.S. from Venezuela. Trump's warning to Venezuelan traffickers that "land operations are easier" and will begin shortly is likely an indication that the U.S. is prepared to extend its reach beyond the seas. With drug trafficking routes becoming more difficult to secure by water, this land-based approach is an effort to close gaps and limit the traffickers' options.

However, while the rhetoric around the new strategy appears aggressive, there are legal complexities surrounding its implementation. The U.S. designation of President Nicolás Maduro and his associates as members of a foreign terrorist organization opens the door for more stringent sanctions, but legal experts argue that it does not grant a clear mandate for military strikes within Venezuelan territory. The Trump administration’s push for operations on land may encounter significant legal and international challenges, especially as Congress has not granted explicit authority for such actions.

Despite these challenges, the administration’s refusal to rule out lethal force in the region and its current military operations suggest that it will continue to pursue aggressive tactics against drug traffickers, even without full congressional approval. This reflects a broader shift towards more unilateral military strategies in Latin America, with potential long-term implications for U.S.-Venezuela relations and international law.

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• Trump says US land action against alleged drug trafficking networks in Venezuela will start ‘very soon’