US President Donald Trump sends conflicting messages on Venezuela intervention as regional tensions mount

United States President Donald Trump has issued a sharp warning to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, claiming that his leadership is nearing an end – even as he played down the likelihood of a direct US military conflict with Venezuela. Trump’s comments came during a wide-ranging CBS interview released on Sunday, in which he also addressed growing concerns about US military activities in the Caribbean.

Conflicting Signals from Washington

When asked whether the US was preparing for war with Venezuela, Trump responded, “I doubt it. I don’t think so.” However, he immediately followed up by signaling regime change may be imminent, stating, “I would say yeah. I think so,” when questioned about whether Maduro’s days in power were numbered.

The contradictory statements come amid an ongoing US military buildup in the Caribbean under the guise of countering “narco-terrorism”. The US has conducted multiple naval and aerial strikes against what it claims are drug-trafficking vessels in international waters. However, legal scholars and United Nations officials have criticized these actions as violations of international law and possible “extrajudicial executions”.

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Maduro Accuses US of Using Drug War as Cover for Regime Change

President Nicolás Maduro, already under US indictment for alleged drug trafficking, has accused Washington of escalating tensions in a bid to overthrow his government and seize Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.

“The United States is fabricating a war against us to steal our resources,” Maduro reiterated in recent speeches, echoing concerns shared by regional leaders wary of expanding US military presence.

US federal officials have recently charged Maduro and several top Venezuelan officials with participating in a years-long drug-trafficking conspiracy. The Venezuelan leader denies all allegations, claiming they are politically motivated.

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US Military Campaign Raises Legal and Ethical Alarms

While the Trump administration insists the strikes are aimed at combating drug cartels, the UN and human rights watchdogs argue that the campaign lacks transparency and bypasses legal due process.

Recent reports confirm that the US has carried out more than a dozen strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific since early September, resulting in the deaths of at least 65 people. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has stated that these lethal actions could constitute “extrajudicial killings”, especially given the absence of publicly available evidence proving that the targets were involved in drug trafficking.

Critics across Latin America warn that the operations risk escalating into a broader conflict and raise concerns about US intentions in Venezuela.

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What’s Next for US-Venezuela Relations?

Speculation continues to mount as US officials remain ambiguous about long-term military plans in the region. Trump stopped short of confirming whether the US would launch strikes on Venezuelan soil, saying: “I’m not going to tell you what I’m going to do with Venezuela.”

Despite the administration’s wavering rhetoric, foreign policy analysts suggest the ongoing military posture indicates preparation for possible intervention, either directly or through proxy forces.