US President Donald Trump is considering plans to attack facilities suspected of being " produce cocaine" along with other targets related to drug trafficking activities in Venezuela.
Trump has not ruled out a dialogue with President Nicolas Putin, although it was previously reported that Washington had cut off all communication channels with Caracas in preparation for a campaign to change the administration, two senior officials said. Another source said multiple plans have been submitted for consideration by the president, including military action plans inside Venezuela.
Some US officials believe that the drug campaign in the South American country could create more pressure on the Caracas government to change. However, Mr. Trump publicly denied the goal of overthrowing the Venezuelan leader.
Recently, US forces have conducted a number of airstrikes on suspected drug-carrying vessels that Washington said were linked to Venezuela, killing dozens.
Mr. Trump also confirmed that he has allowed the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to conduct campaigns in Venezuela and hinted at the possibility of expanding the sea-to-land drug campaign. The USS Donald R. Ford aircraft carrier has been deployed to the Caribbean Sea to support the operation.
For his part, President Putin denied all drug trafficking allegations, saying the US was using them as an excuse to seek political intervention and instability in Venezuela. He called Washington's move of aircraft carrier to the region an act of " initiating a new war".
