US President, Donald Trump has warned that US action against suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers will soon extend from sea to land. This escalation comes just days after the US designated Venezuela's Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization The US has significantly ramped up its maritime efforts over the last few months, carrying out at least 21 strikes on boats it claims were carrying narcotics to American shores. Venezuela has vehemently denied involvement in the drug trade and claims the attacks, which have killed more than 80 people, amount to murder. Speaking to military service members in a call for Thanksgiving, Trump stated the US was preparing to significantly ramp up the response. You probably noticed that people arent wanting to be delivering by sea, and well be starting to stop them by land also, he said. The land is easier, but thats going to start very soon. We warned them to stop sending poison to our country, Trump added. America's most advanced aircraft carrier is among the ships deployed to the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific as part of Operation Southern Spear. The US has accused Venezuela's president, Nicolas Maduro, of being directly involved in the drug trade. While the US has released videos of boats being targeted, it has not provided photographic evidence of the alleged drug cargo to support the smuggling claims. The Pentagon has sought to justify the strikes by formally labeling the drug gangs as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs), a designation used for groups like al Qaeda and Hamas. This week, the US formally designated the Cartel de los Soles (Cartel of the Suns) as an FTO, asserting the group is headed by Maduro and other high-ranking individuals from his regime. Another Venezuelan drugs group, Tren de Aragua, received the FTO designation from the US in January. Maduro, who is seen by most Western countries as a dictator, has accused the US of fabricating a war to overthrow him and install a more favorable government. Venezuelan officials have countered that Trumps true motivation is to gain access to the countrys plentiful oil reserves and other natural resources such as gold and diamonds. Maduro, 63, could potentially use oil as a bargaining chip in any future negotiations. Trump has previously stated he would be open to talks, but that prospect seems unlikely given the Venezuelan leaders recent rhetoric.This week, Maduro was pictured wielding a sword as he vowed to defend every inch of this blessed land from imperialist threat.
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