President Donald Trump has hinted at the possibility of a U.S. military operation in Venezuela, while insisting that Washington is not actively pursuing regime change in the country.
Speaking on Friday, Trump said the United States remains concerned about Venezuela’s “very strange election” that saw President Nicolás Maduro claim victory in 2024. “We’re not talking about that [regime change], but we are talking about the fact that you had an election which was a very strange election, to put it mildly,” Trump told reporters.
His remarks came as the U.S. ordered an additional 10 stealth fighter jets to reinforce its military presence in the Caribbean. The move adds to a growing buildup in the region, raising questions about Washington’s next steps toward Caracas.
Earlier this week, Maduro accused the United States of threatening Venezuela with military intervention to remove him from power. “The government of the United States should abandon its plan of violent regime change in Venezuela and in all of Latin America and respect sovereignty, the right to peace, to independence,” Maduro declared on state television.
Despite his criticism, Maduro struck a softer tone toward Trump, saying: “I respect Trump. None of the differences we’ve had can lead to a military conflict. Venezuela has always been willing to converse, to dialogue.”
The latest developments follow a U.S. military strike on Tuesday that targeted a Venezuelan vessel allegedly transporting illegal narcotics. The attack killed 11 people and destroyed the boat, with Trump framing it as part of his administration’s new approach to the drug war.
The escalating tension has once again thrust Venezuela into the spotlight, fueling speculation over whether Washington’s actions signal a shift toward direct confrontation or a high-pressure tactic aimed at pushing Maduro’s government to negotiate.
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