US actions are not war against Venezuela, Trump says
Photo: Donald Trump, President of the United States (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump said that the United States is not at war with Venezuela, while not ruling out the possibility of a renewed intervention, according to his interview with NBC News.
"No, we’re not," Trump said.
Trump explained that US actions are directed against specific individuals involved in drug trafficking, as well as those who smuggle certain persons into the United States.
"We’re at war with people that sell drugs. We’re at war with people that empty their prisons into our country and empty their drug addicts and empty their mental institutions into our country."
Trump also said that Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who is currently acting as president, is cooperating with US officials. At the same time, he added that there had been no contact between her and the American side before the overthrow of Nicolas Maduro.
The US president declined to say whether he had personally spoken with Rodríguez, but noted that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio "speaks freely with her in Spanish" and that their relationship is very strong.
Trump also hinted that the United States could launch a second military intervention in Venezuela if Rodríguez were to stop cooperating with US officials, while stressing that he does not consider such a step necessary.
In addition, he acknowledged that he had initially expected the possibility of redeploying US troops. He said the United States was ready to do so and had, in fact, anticipated that option.
US operation in Venezuela
On Saturday, January 3, the United States carried out a large-scale operation in Venezuela, with US forces striking targets in the country’s capital, Caracas. A number of military and other facilities were hit.
The main objective of the operation was the detention of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, who, along with his wife Cilia Flores, was taken to the United States.
On Monday, January 5, the first court hearing took place in New York. At the hearing, both detainees pleaded not guilty, while Maduro also claimed he remained the sitting president. The next hearing is scheduled for March 17.
According to Bloomberg, the trial itself is unlikely to begin before 2027, as the court is currently setting a timetable for the exchange of evidence and conducting preliminary procedures.
