The Trump administration has significantly escalated its pressure campaign against the Venezuelan government with the first known direct operation on Venezuelan soil. President Donald Trump confirmed that U.S. forces targeted a coastal dock facility used for drug trafficking, describing the site as a major implementation area for narcotics shipments. Sources familiar with the operation indicate that the strike was carried out by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) using an unmanned drone, marking a shift from previous maritime-only engagements.
The strike is the latest in a months-long "Big Stick" policy approach, which has seen the deployment of a massive naval fleet to the Caribbean, the seizure of several oil tankers, and at least 35 strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels that have resulted in over 115 deaths. The administration maintains these actions are necessary to combat the "Cartel of the Suns" and disrupt the flow of illicit drugs into the United States.
In a televised interview, President Nicolás Maduro struck a dual-toned response. While he declined to officially confirm or deny the details of the land strike, he expressed a cautious openness to "serious" dialogue with Washington regarding drug trafficking and migration. However, Maduro reiterated his stance that the U.S. campaign is a pretense for "international piracy" intended to destabilize his government and seize control of Venezuela's vast oil reserves.
As tensions reach their highest point since the military buildup began in August, international observers and regional leaders have expressed concern over the potential for further kinetic action and the long-term impact on regional stability.
