Featured Image Credit: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Topics: News, US News, Donald Trump, Drugs
Gerrard Kaonga
Topics: News, US News, Donald Trump, Drugs
Donald Trump’s government has flexed its muscles toward the Venezuelan leadership as fears continue to grow of a conflict between the two nations.
While potential conflicts involving the US tend to concern China, Russia or nations in the Middle East, tensions are also rising closer to home.
The Trump administration has recently been putting pressure on the authoritarian president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro.
Earlier this week, at least two B-52 bombers from Louisiana took to the skies off the coast of Venezuela, in international airspace, in a move one senior US official called a ‘show of force’.
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The bombers are capable of carrying dozens of precision-guided bombs.
This comes after threats from the US against Venezuela’s leadership over claims that people from the country are sending drugs into the country.
The US has been taking action against what they are calling ‘narco-terrorist’ drug smugglers and has so far killed around 27 people in strikes in open water.
Trump has previously defended these acts, and speaking after one attack, he said: “We attacked a submarine, and that was a drug-carrying submarine built specifically for the transportation of massive amounts of drugs.
“This was not an innocent group of people. I don't know too many people who have submarines, and that was an attack on a drug-carrying, loaded submarine."
There are also fears that the US could escalate the situation further, with reports that Trump is considering deploying a secretive ‘night stalker’ regiment, a group that is part of the Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
This elite aviation unit has previously provided precision air support for operational forces, including the Green Berets, the Navy SEALs and Delta Force.
According to a New York Times report, a US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that those part of the helicopter squadron have been flying training missions for a possible military action inside Venezuela.
This comes after the Trump administration confirmed that covert CIA action in Venezuela has been authorized, and in addition to this, the president’s office is considering strikes inside the country.
Maduro is also preparing for more conflict with the US if the situation doesn't de-escalate. Troops have reportedly been moved to the coastlines and to the border with Colombia, should things take a turn.
The Mail Online also reported that earlier this week, Maduro stated in a speech: "Raise your hands if you want to be a slave to the gringos.
“If you want peace, get ready to earn peace. The people are ready for combat, ready for battle.”