US President Donald Trump convened a meeting with his top national security officials in the Oval Office on Monday to discuss the situation in Venezuela. This meeting occurred as Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro publicly rejected a "slave's peace," escalating fears of potential American military action.
Trump is intensifying pressure on Caracas through a major naval build-up in the Caribbean. The US military has been involved in bombings of suspected drug-ferrying boats and issued warnings to avoid Venezuelan airspace.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the security team meeting but refused to detail the specifics or whether a final decision was reached. Crucially, Leavitt declined to rule out the possibility of US troops on the ground in Venezuela, stating "There's options at the president's disposal that are on the table."
Washington states the military deployment, launched in September and involving the world's largest aircraft carrier, is aimed at curbing drug trafficking. Maduro, who views the US actions as an attempt to topple his regime, addressed supporters in Caracas, demanding "peace with sovereignty, equality, freedom!"
He stated, "We do not want a slave's peace, nor the peace of colonies." The US has designated an alleged drug cartel led by Maduro, the "Cartel of the Suns," as a terrorist group and offered a $50 million reward for his capture. Venezuela denies the existence of this organization.
Trump confirmed a recent phone call with Maduro—the first since he returned to office—but provided few details, calling it simply "a phone call." Reports from The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal suggested the call discussed a possible meeting and amnesty conditions if Maduro were to step down.
The Trump administration is facing controversy over air strikes targeting alleged drug-trafficking boats, which have reportedly killed at least 83 people. Trump said he would "look into" claims of a "double-tap" strike in early September that allegedly killed two survivors. The White House defended the action, saying the admiral who ordered the follow-up strike acted lawfully to ensure the threat was eliminated.
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