US to extend anti-drug campaign against Venezuela to land routes as tensions sharpen

Donald Trump says the United States will begin targeting alleged Venezuelan drug trafficking “by land”, signalling another sharp intensification of pressure on Caracas, which has accused Washington of preparing the ground for regime change.

The announcement comes after weeks of US military build-up across Latin America, including an aircraft carrier group, stealth fighters and thousands of troops, alongside a campaign of strikes on vessels Washington labels as drug trafficking boats. Those maritime attacks have already killed dozens in international waters, drawing condemnation from legal experts and regional governments.

Addressing US forces in a Thanksgiving video message, Trump praised their role in what he framed as a successful crackdown.

“You really are the backbone of America’s airpower, and in recent weeks, you’ve been working to deter Venezuelan drug traffickers, of which there are many,” he said.

He claimed maritime smuggling had largely been neutralised and announced a shift in focus.

“Of course, there aren’t too many coming in by sea any more,” Trump said. “People aren’t wanting to be delivering by sea, and we’ll be starting to stop them by land also. “The land is easier, but that’s going to start very soon. We warned them. Stop sending poison to our country.But we’re going to take care of that situation. We’re already doing a lot. We’ve almost stopped it. It’s about 85 percent stopped by sea.”

Since September, the US military has carried out more than 20 strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, resulting in at least 83 deaths. Critics across Latin America argue the operations amount to extrajudicial killings, especially as Washington has presented no public evidence linking those targeted boats to drug trafficking. Regional leaders say many of those killed were fishermen.

Trump has repeatedly accused President Nicolas Maduro and senior Venezuelan officials of participating in the drug trade and has previously warned of possible military action against sites inside Venezuela.

Caracas rejects these allegations, describing them as a justification for foreign intervention. Venezuelan officials accuse the US of attempting to destabilise the country and topple Maduro under the guise of a “war on drugs”.

Responding on national television, Maduro insisted his government and people would not be intimidated.

“For 17 weeks, foreign and imperialist forces have been continuously threatening to disrupt the peace of the Caribbean Sea, South America, and Venezuela under false and extravagant arguments that no one believes, neither in US public opinion, nor in world public opinion, and even less so in the powerful Venezuelan public opinion,” he said. “Today, we say that in Venezuela, there is no threat or aggression that frightens our people or takes us by surprise,” Maduro said. “Our people have prepared themselves with imperturbable serenity to defend their homeland, their soil, their seas, their sky, their soul, and their history,” he added.

As US rhetoric hardens and military actions expand, regional concern is mounting that what began as an aggressive anti-narcotics campaign is sliding toward open confrontation with Venezuela.