Trump may be planning an operation to overthrow Maduro in Venezuela, Axios says
Photo: Donald Trump, President of the United States (Getty Images)
The US, under the guise of fighting drug trafficking in Venezuela, may attempt to overthrow the regime of dictator Nicolás Maduro. Washington has already promised $50 million for help in his capture, Axios reports.
Rumors of a US operation
According to the outlet, the US has already sent seven ships carrying 4,500 troops to the shores of Venezuela. Among the ships are three destroyers equipped with guided missiles. At least one submarine has also been deployed to Venezuelan waters.
Axios reports that even President Donald Trump’s closest advisers are not certain that the troop and ship deployment was part of a counter-narcotics operation. They consider it possible that the mission is aimed at overthrowing the government in Caracas.
In particular, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has already hinted at the mission’s ambiguity, noting that the US considers Maduro a "fugitive head of a drug cartel", not the legitimate president of Venezuela.
"This is 105% about narco-terrorism, but if Maduro winds up no longer in power, no one will be crying," an unnamed representative of the Trump administration told reporters.
Another US administration official suggested that the United States could carry out an operation similar to the one in 1989, when Panamanian President Manuel Noriega, also accused of drug trafficking, was captured.
"Leaving Maduro in power in Venezuela is like making Jeffrey Epstein the head of a daycare," said another Trump adviser.
Axios noted that the group sent to the shores of Venezuela includes 2,200 Marines. This is hardly typical for operations aimed at combating drug cartels.
Maduro and allies’ reaction
Maduro, in turn, has already accused the US of attempting to overthrow his regime.
"What they're threatening to do against Venezuela — regime change, a military terrorist attack — is immoral, criminal and illegal," he said.
Meanwhile, Maduro’s ally in the leftist camp, Colombian President Gustavo Petro, circulated a Russian media report accusing the US of intending to seize Venezuela’s oil.
How the operation might unfold
According to the outlet, the main hope of the US administration is that Maduro will either voluntarily step down or be removed by military personnel who expect to receive rewards or establish relations with Washington.
A direct invasion seems unlikely, but officials almost certainly anticipate active interception of suspicious drug-carrying ships near Venezuelan waters.
"Some boats will definitely be caught or sunk," one source told journalists.
Airstrikes are also possible, with potential targets including sparsely populated jungle areas with coca plantations or cartel activity, as well as a recently built Russian ammunition plant.
Some of Trump’s advisers suggest that Maduro could become the target of a drone strike, as he is officially recognized as a terrorist, although Axios sources consider this scenario unlikely.
On August 9, it became known that the US had declared war on drug cartels. This specifically includes Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles, which Maduro is allegedly leading.
