US President Donald Trump has ordered the strengthening of naval forces near Venezuela and a strike against cartel members involved in drug trafficking. He stated that members of the “Tren de Aragua” group were targeted while transporting drugs to the US in international waters, and 11 individuals were neutralized.
Citing Newsweek, the editorial office reports that Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called Trump's move a “threat to regional security.” Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Zakharova said that the West is exerting “unacceptable pressure against states that want to pursue independent policies.”
According to reports, the operation is part of the Trump administration's package of tough military measures against drug trafficking. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegset stated that the president is amassing “unprecedented offensive potential” against cartels.
The US has severed diplomatic ties with Venezuela, imposed sanctions against the country, and presents President Nicolas Maduro as the “head of a narco-terror cartel.” Washington and several Western states recognized Edmundo Gonzalez as Venezuela's legitimate leader after last year's elections.
Senator Rick Scott, meanwhile, demanded the urgent adoption of a bill called the “Stop Maduro Act.” According to the bill, the reward amount for those providing information on Maduro could be increased to up to $100 million.
Experts believe that the US will not conduct a ground operation in Venezuela, but the accumulation of military forces in the region aims to intensify political pressure against Maduro.