His comments came after the United States ramped up its military presence around South American countries, attacking suspected drug-smuggling vessels and seizing sanctioned oil tankers.
President Trump labels Venezuela a terrorist group and orders oil blockade
President Donald Trump designated Venezuela a foreign terrorist organization and blocked the access of sanctioned oil tankers.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump told NBC News that war with Venezuela remains a possibility. Venezuela has labeled its leader a terrorist regime and targeted it militarily on suspicion of drug smuggling.
President Trump said in a telephone interview with NBC on December 18, “I won’t rule out that possibility.”
President Trump on December 16 ordered a blockade of oil tankers to and from the South American country as part of a months-long U.S. military buildup.
On December 10, the United States seized a Cuba-bound tanker carrying cargo belonging to a businessman with ties to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
“If they’re stupid enough to sail, they’ll go back to one of our ports,” Trump told NBC News.
The U.S. military has also attacked vessels suspected of smuggling drugs from Venezuela. More than 100 people were killed in attacks on 28 boats.
Parliament is scrutinizing a second attack on the boat on September 2, with people clinging to wreckage in the water after the first explosion.
President Trump aims to pressure Venezuela to change its leadership through military operations. On December 16, he declared the Maduro regime a foreign terrorist organization in a social media post.
He told military officials on November 28 that a ground attack could begin “soon.”
