US President Donald Trump is considering the possibility of strikes against drug cartels that Washington believes are based in Venezuela, CNN reported, citing its sources.
According to the media, such plans are part of a broader course by the US administration aimed at weakening the position of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. A final decision has not yet been made, the television company noted.
According to CNN, some US officials hope that this week's strike against a ship near the coast of Venezuela and potential future strikes against drug traffickers will put pressure on people in Maduro's entourage and force them to consider a change of power. “It would be preferable for Maduro to figure out how to leave office himself. Then they will hint to him: “Do you want to take the easy way or the hard way?“ - said one of the sources of the television company.
On September 5, Trump assured that Washington is not talking about overthrowing the government in Caracas. On September 2, the US president announced that the US armed forces had destroyed 11 members of the Venezuelan drug cartel during an operation in international waters. According to Trump, Venezuela is not taking enough measures to combat drug trafficking. Maduro expressed the opinion that the republic is exposed to the most serious threat of invasion by the US in the last 100 years.