President Donald Trump refused to rule out the possibility of deploying U.S. ground troops to address the situation in Venezuela, telling reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, “I don’t rule out anything.”
The President’s comments came during a press conference when he was directly asked if he was “ruling out U.S. troops on the ground” in the South American nation, led by socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro.
“No, I haven’t ruled out that, I don’t rule out anything,” Trump responded. “We just have to take care of Venezuela. They dumped hundreds of thousands of people into our country from prisons.”
Military Speculation and Diplomatic Signals
The White House has an “unprecedented array of military forces and assets now available in the southern Caribbean,” according to reports, which has intensified speculation that the administration may soon take kinetic action to oust the regime.
However, the President also indicated he would consider a direct conversation with the Venezuelan leader before ordering any strikes. Trump said he “probably would talk to” Maduro “directly.”
CNN reported Monday that the President has not yet made a final decision on military action and has reportedly voiced some reservations during briefings on the available options.
Terrorist Designation and Drug Cartel Ties
The comments followed a major move by the administration targeting the Maduro regime’s alleged ties to criminal organizations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday that the Venezuelan-based Cartel de los Soles (Cartel of the Suns) has been designated a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). The criminal syndicate is said to have direct ties to the dictator.
“Neither Maduro nor his cronies represent Venezuela’s legitimate government,” Rubio stated during the announcement. “Cartel de los Soles by and with other designated FTOs including Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel are responsible for terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe.”
President Trump has consistently accused Maduro of enabling cartels and facilitating the illegal drug trade, providing a major rationale for the administration’s increasingly aggressive posture toward Caracas.
READ: Jonathan Turley Warns Trump Faces ‘Challenging’ Lawsuit Against BBC Under US Law
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