For the second time this month, President Donald Trump has declared that “land strikes” against Venezuela are imminent and will occur “soon,” following U.S. authorities’ seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker off its coast.
The announcement came a day after federal agencies seized the vessel, which carried sanctioned oil. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the tanker had been designated as part of an illicit network supporting foreign terrorist organizations and that the operation was conducted “safely and securely.”
Trump did not clarify what “soon” meant when questioned by reporter Peter Doocy on Fox News. The president previously indicated similar threats in October, signaling a buildup of military action against Venezuela.
Trump has linked Venezuela’s government to drug trafficking operations entering the United States, claiming that the Tren de Aragua (TdA) terror gang—of which he asserts the Maduro regime is closely aligned and infiltrated—is facilitated by the country to allow thousands of individuals, including those from prisons and gangs, to enter American soil.
In April, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act to target TdA members, stating that the Maduro regime “essentially controls” the gang. A former CIA official reported in March that Maduro had sent 300 paramilitary-trained TdA members to the United States, while Trump’s administration has indicated such operations are part of a broader pattern.
The president also noted that military actions against drug boats have reduced seaborne trafficking by 92%, and he stated: “We’ll start that on land, too.” In October, Trump had already hinted at impending land strikes, and he has repeatedly tied Venezuela’s leadership to narcoterrorism efforts aimed at flooding the United States with illegal narcotics.
