Trump
rules out “war” but declines to say if U.S. will hit land targets.
Washington, D.C. | President Donald Trump has dismissed the prospect of the United States going to war with Venezuela, even as his administration continues maritime strikes and a military buildup in the Caribbean, fueling speculation about a potential escalation.
Speaking
to CBS News’ “60 Minutes”, Trump said he “doubts” a war is imminent but did not
rule out land strikes, asserting that Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s days
“are numbered.”
Context
and Relevance
The
U.S.–Venezuela tension has resurfaced following a series of maritime strikes
ordered by the Trump administration against alleged drug-smuggling vessels in
the Caribbean and Pacific. Over the last two months, the Pentagon confirmed
more than a dozen attacks, reportedly killing over 60 people.
Washington
has justified these operations as part of Trump’s “war on cartels,” accusing
Venezuela of facilitating narcotics trafficking and harboring transnational
criminal networks such as Tren de Aragua.
However,
critics argue that the administration’s legal justification for such strikes
remains opaque.
Congressional
Reaction and Legal Debate
On
Capitol Hill, Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about the
constitutional authority behind these military operations, questioning whether
Congress was sufficiently briefed.
Sen.
Mark Warner (D–Va.) said the administration must “come clean” about the
intelligence and legal basis for the strikes:
“If
these are indeed drug-smuggling boats, interdict them and show the evidence to
the world,” Warner told Face the Nation on Sunday.
In
contrast, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R–La.) defended the operations, insisting
the “Gang of Eight” has been briefed and that the administration possesses
“exquisite intelligence.”
Military
Escalation in the Caribbean
The
U.S. has expanded its naval footprint near Venezuela, deploying the Gerald R.
Ford Carrier Strike Group to the region. The move, confirmed last week by
defense officials, has prompted allies and analysts to warn that it may signal
preparation for broader intervention.
Sen.
Lindsey Graham (R–S.C.), a close Trump ally, described U.S. land strikes as a
“real possibility”, saying it may be “time for Maduro to go.”
Trump’s
Statements and Strategic Ambiguity
When
pressed by reporters aboard Air Force One in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday, Trump
declined to confirm or deny plans for land-based operations:
“I’m
not saying it’s true or untrue,” he said. “I wouldn’t discuss that with a
reporter.”
He
reiterated his view that Venezuela has “treated the U.S. very badly”, alleging
— without evidence — that Caracas had “emptied its prisons into our country.”
Diplomatic
and Regional Implications
Analysts
warn that even limited U.S. strikes on Venezuelan soil could trigger regional
instability. Neighboring countries, including Colombia and Brazil, have already
increased military vigilance along their borders.
According
to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, an escalation could disrupt
regional energy and migration flows, affecting over 2 million Venezuelan
refugees in Latin America.
Expert
Analysis
Dr.
Ana Lucía Ramírez, a Latin American policy expert at the Atlantic Council, said
the ambiguity serves both political and tactical purposes:
“Trump
is signaling strength to domestic audiences while keeping military options
open. It’s a calibrated show of power rather than a declaration of war.”
She
added that the administration’s lack of transparency may complicate future
international law assessments regarding sovereignty and intervention.
While
Trump publicly rules out war, his administration’s pattern of limited strikes
and covert operations paints a more complex strategic picture.
For
now, the boundary between counter-narcotics enforcement and armed conflict
remains thin — and the world is watching how far Washington is willing to go.
By
María Pérez | Editor-in-Chief, CRN Times
Washington, D.C. | Updated 04/11/2025, 08:00 ET