U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to expand military operations against drug traffickers in the Caribbean during a White House cabinet meeting this week, stating land-based strikes will begin "very soon." The move follows months of heightened naval activity in the region, including the deployment of 15,000 troops and warships like the USS Gerald R. Ford.
"We're going to start doing those strikes on land. You know, the land is much easier. It's much easier, and we know the routes they take," Trump said on December 3, 2025, during remarks from his Mar-a-Lago estate. The Pentagon has conducted at least 21 strikes on suspected drug vessels since September 2025, resulting in 83 fatalities.
Critics in the U.S. Congress have questioned the legality of the operations and whether counternarcotics is the sole objective, given the unprecedented scale of military mobilization near Venezuela. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly denied involvement in drug trafficking, accusing Washington of using the campaign to justify regime change efforts.
The Caribbean region, which shares significant coastline with Venezuela, has not seen such a concentrated U.S. military presence since the 1990s. Analysts suggest the escalation could further strain U.S.-Latin American relations ahead of key regional summits in early 2026.
