The President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated that if Venezuelan planes fly over U.S. Navy ships and “threaten our security, they will be shot down.”
This warning comes after Venezuelan military aircraft hovered over a U.S. vessel deployed in the Caribbean for the second time in two days, according to U.S. officials speaking to CBS News, affiliated with the BBC in the U.S.
These incidents follow this week’s attacks on a boat, which according to U.S. officials, was transporting drugs from Venezuela and was operated by a criminal organization, resulting in the deaths of 11 individuals.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has claimed that the accusations from the U.S. against his country are false and that the differences between the two nations do not justify a military conflict.
“Venezuela has always been willing to negotiate, but we demand respect,” Maduro stated.
When asked on Friday in the Oval Office what would happen if Venezuelan planes flew over U.S. ships again, Trump replied that Venezuela would be facing serious problems.
Trump told the general beside him that he could take necessary measures if the situation escalated. Since returning to office in January, Trump has progressively intensified his battle against drug trafficking in Latin America.
Maduro accused the United States of attempting a “regime change through military threat.” When asked about these comments, Trump replied: “We’re not going to talk about that,” but mentioned what he called “very strange elections” in Venezuela.
Maduro started his third term as president in January after elections whose results are under scrutiny because the National Electoral Council proclaimed the president’s victory but never released detailed results that would allow verification.
In contrast, the opposition published records from over 80% of polling stations, claiming that their candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, was the real winner of the elections.
Anadolu via Getty Images: The USS Sampson is one of the U.S. destroyers deployed in the Caribbean.
Fight Against Drug Trafficking
During his appearance at the White House, Trump added that “a large quantity of drugs” enter the United States from Venezuela, and members of the organization Tren de Aragua, considered a terrorist organization by the U.S., reside in that country.
The U.S. military forces have reinforced their presence in the southern Caribbean, deploying additional ships and thousands of Marines and sailors to combat drug trafficking.
This deployment includes eight warships—among them amphibious ships and destroyers—surveillance aircraft P-8 and an attack submarine.
The White House announced on Friday it would send 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico.
When asked about this military deployment in the Caribbean, Trump stated: “I think it’s a strong measure. We are steadfast in our battle against drugs. We don’t want drugs to keep killing our people.”
Trump has long criticized Maduro and, in August, doubled the reward for information leading to his capture to $50 million, accusing him of being “one of the biggest drug traffickers in the world.”
During Trump’s first term, the U.S. government accused Maduro and other high-ranking Venezuelan officials of various crimes, including narcoterrorism, corruption, and drug trafficking.
Maduro has previously rejected the accusations from the United States.
BBCMundo