According to a retired colonel, crucial cartel sites in Venezuela could face destruction if President Donald Trump orders a US Navy attack. The USS Gerald R. Ford’s deployment, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, suggests a potential escalation in Trump’s efforts against suspected drug trafficking vessels near Venezuela, which have led to at least 75 deaths since August. Trump has pledged to combat the drug trade responsible for numerous fentanyl-related deaths in the US annually.
As the naval strike group arrived in the Caribbean, Trump’s statement hinting at the demise of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro indicates a possible regime change. The US administration alleges that Venezuela is providing shelter to cartels involved in smuggling opioids into the US. Retired US Marine Corps Colonel Mark Cancian mentioned the possibility of direct strikes against both the cartels and Maduro’s regime.
Cancian noted the significant US military presence in the Caribbean, emphasizing potential targets for strikes, including cartel production facilities, airfields, warehouses, and shipbuilding facilities. Additionally, the focus could extend to Maduro’s regime, targeting headquarters, security forces, leadership, and air defenses.
US administrations have historically opposed dictatorships in Venezuela, with Trump’s officials expressing animosity towards Maduro’s government, blaming it for empowering cartels and facilitating drug smuggling into the US. Concerns over cartel influence have influenced Trump’s decision to deploy warships and submarines to the region.
While there is hope that US strikes could lead to Maduro’s downfall, Cancian highlighted the risk of cartels gaining control outside major urban areas. In the event of regime change, the US may offer military aid and training rather than deploying troops on the ground. The focus would be on supporting a new government and securing peacekeeping assistance from other nations.
Trump is likely to justify aiding a new administration as a measure to combat drug trafficking and safeguard American citizens. The level of military support to Venezuela would be less compared to other conflicts, with an emphasis on countering the drug trade and ensuring US security interests.
