U.S. forces conducted a strike on a vessel suspected of smuggling illegal drugs near Venezuela’s coast on Saturday night, President Donald Trump announced Sunday, signaling an expansion of efforts to target drug trafficking on land.
Speaking at Naval Station Norfolk beside the USS Harry S. Truman, Trump did not clarify if the operation was related to a strike disclosed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday.
That operation, the fourth in recent weeks, resulted in four deaths.
“The Navy has been instrumental in our mission to obliterate cartel terrorists at sea … we hit another one last night. Now they’re running dry,” Trump said.
“They’re avoiding the sea routes, so we’ll shift focus to land because that’s where they’ll go next.”
Venezuela’s communications ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. However, President Nicolas Maduro posted a video on Telegram denouncing U.S. aggression, emphasizing Venezuela’s diplomatic backing and resilience.
“Our people will always stand firm to protect their right to live freely,” Maduro declared, without directly addressing Trump’s remarks. “We are prepared for any challenge.”
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil stated Sunday that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed “complete support and solidarity” to Caracas during a phone call.
On Saturday, Gil revealed that Maduro had written to Pope Leo XIV, seeking his assistance to “promote peace in Venezuela.”
Hegseth, in a Fox News interview aired Sunday, confirmed he has full authorization for the Caribbean operations.
