Trump refuses to rule out war with Venezuela President Donald Trump said on Saturday that United States forces had apprehended Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro following what he described as a “large scale strike” on the South American nation.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country,” Trump said on Truth Social.
“This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement.”
Trump also announced that he would address the public at a news conference scheduled for 11:00 am (1600 GMT) at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, where he is spending the holiday period.
In a short telephone interview, Trump praised the operation, describing it as “brilliant.”
“A lot of good planning and lot of great, great troops and great people,” he was quoted as saying.
The announcement comes after months of increasing military and economic pressure by the United States on Maduro and Venezuela’s oil-dependent economy.
In December, Trump said “it would be smart for (Maduro)” to step aside, adding on another occasion that the Venezuelan leader’s “days are numbered.”
Trump’s claim followed recent attempts by Maduro to open dialogue with Washington, including proposals for cooperation on combating drug trafficking and illegal migration.
The US president has offered various justifications for his actions against Venezuela, accusing the country of exporting drugs into the United States and unlawfully taking over American oil interests.
While Trump has not openly called for Maduro’s removal, the US government and several European countries have declined to recognise him as Venezuela’s legitimate leader.
A major naval and air deployment has been established in the Caribbean, involving an aircraft carrier and several warships.
US forces have intercepted two oil tankers as part of an oil blockade on Venezuela and carried out air strikes targeting small boats accused of drug smuggling, resulting in more than 100 deaths.
Trump said earlier in the week that the United States had struck and destroyed a docking facility allegedly used by Venezuelan drug traffickers, marking what was reported as the first strike on Venezuelan territory during the campaign.
Meanwhile, Venezuela accused the United States of an “extremely serious military aggression” after explosions were reported in the capital, Caracas, in the early hours of Saturday.
Reports indicated that military strikes were underway, a development many Venezuelans had feared after weeks of escalating tensions.
“One was so strong, my window was shaking after it,” Osmary Hernandez said.
