The U.S. Secretary of State is holding talks with European countries to create a coalition to counter drug cartels operating under the leadership of the Venezuelan president.
This information was confirmed by diplomatic sources cited by the Spanish publication ABC.
The head of U.S. diplomacy, Marco Rubio, has initiated talks with his regional allies, Mexico and Canada, as well as with the governments of Italy, the United Kingdom and France. These countries have suffered from drug trafficking on their own territories.
France has already confirmed its support for the initiative and will send warships to the island of Guadeloupe, which is under its jurisdiction.
US Navy warships and a nuclear submarine are already in the region. They have at least 4,500 troops on board, including 2,200 marines. In addition, a P-8 aircraft collects intelligence in the international waters of the Caribbean Sea.
Earlier, the United States announced a $50 million reward for information about Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is accused of international drug trafficking, corruption, and human rights violations. Washington has already imposed sanctions against him and recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the country’s legitimate president.
“Maduro is using foreign terrorist organizations to bring deadly drugs and violence into our country,” the US said.
According to the US Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration seized 30 tons of cocaine associated with Maduro’s entourage, including almost seven tons directly from him.
Maduro defends himself
In response, Nicolás Maduro said that his country was ‘under siege’ after the United States had dramatically increased its military presence in the southern Caribbean.
Speaking to the soldiers in Caracas, he emphasized that the deployment of several US warships, a nuclear submarine and thousands of troops off the coast of Venezuela was a “hostile siege that violates the U.N. Charter.”
“But under no circumstances will they be able to invade Venezuela,” Maduro said.
In addition, Caracas complained to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres about Washington’s actions, accusing the United States of violating international law. “This is a large-scale propaganda operation designed to justify what experts call ‘kinetic actions,’ that is, military intervention in the affairs of a sovereign state that does not threaten anyone,” said Venezuela’s Permanent Representative to the U.N., Samuel Moncada.
The possibility of a US invasion
The Axios analytical publication suggests that the US military flotilla is unlikely to be exclusively intended to fight drug cartels. According to experts, the US activity may indicate preparations for an armed conflict with Venezuela.
According to the publication’s sources, circles close to the White House are discussing the possibility of regime change in Caracas.
This version is indirectly confirmed by statements by the representatives of the Donald Trump administration. Thus, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Maduro was “the head of a drug cartel who has not yet been caught,” and not the legitimate president of Venezuela.
One White House official compared the situation with Venezuela to the 1989 US operation against Panamanian President Manuel Noriega, who was also accused of drug trafficking.
Another adviser said that “leaving Maduro in power is like putting Jeffrey Epstein in charge of a kindergarten.”
“This is 105% drug terrorism, but if Maduro is removed from power, no one will cry,” added another administration official.
Axios recalls that the day before Trump ordered a large-scale operation against drug cartels in Latin America, the United States increased the reward for information about Maduro from $25 million to $50 million.
(militarnyi)