Washington: US President Donald Trump has said that the United States is unlikely to go to war with Venezuela, while suggesting that Nicolás Maduro’s time as the country’s leader may soon come to an end.
Trump has made the comments during an interview with CBS’ 60 Minutes, stating that he doubts the US is preparing for war, despite ongoing strikes in the Caribbean against alleged drug-smuggling operations.
Trump has said that Venezuela has treated the US ‘very badly’ but denied that the operations were focused on removing Maduro from power. Trump added that the actions were ‘about many things’, emphasizing the government’s fight against narcotics entering the United States.
Reports have indicated that at least 64 people have been killed by the US strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific since early September. When asked whether further action, including land strikes, could be taken, Trump said that he would not reveal any such plans.
The Venezuelan government has accused Washington of fabricating a pretext for war, while Colombian President Gustavo Petro has criticized the US for using anti-drug operations to ‘dominate’ Latin America. Trump has also blamed the migration crisis on Venezuelan gangs, calling Tren de Aragua “the most vicious gang anywhere in the world”.
In the same interview, Trump has discussed nuclear weapons testing, claiming that the US must resume testing to keep pace with Russia and China. Trump insisted that other nations were conducting tests ‘without saying it publicly’ and said he did not want the US to ‘be the only country that doesn’t test’.
Trump’s remarks have reignited debate over Washington’s policies toward Latin America and nuclear deterrence, drawing both support and criticism from political observers across the United States.
Political analysts have said that Trump’s latest remarks reflect a continued focus on projecting United States strength abroad while addressing domestic concerns related to border security and national defence.
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