In a significant development in the Caribbean security landscape, former President Donald Trump has disclosed that United States forces executed a military strike targeting a dock facility allegedly utilized by Venezuelan drug trafficking operations. The revelation came during a press briefing in Florida on Monday, where Trump characterized the operation as targeting a “dock area” central to narcotics loading operations.
Trump’s description of a “major explosion” occurring last week marks the second time he has referenced this operation, though he maintained deliberate ambiguity regarding operational details. When pressed by journalists about potential CIA involvement, Trump responded cryptically: “I don’t want to say that. I know exactly who it was, but I don’t want to say who it was.”
This incident represents the latest escalation in Washington’s intensified counter-narcotics campaign targeting Venezuelan operations. Since September, U.S. forces have conducted strikes against more than twenty vessels allegedly involved in drug smuggling, resulting in approximately 100 casualties according to official reports.
The geopolitical context reveals deepening tensions between the two nations. The Trump administration has deployed substantial military assets to the region, including 15,000 troops and advanced naval vessels such as the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier. This deployment represents the largest U.S. military presence in the Caribbean since the 1989 invasion of Panama.
Venezuela’s government under President Nicolás Maduro has previously condemned U.S. actions as “piracy” and rejected allegations that Maduro maintains connections to drug cartels. Maduro contends that Washington’s anti-drug campaign serves as a pretext for regime change and access to Venezuela’s extensive oil reserves.
The White House and Pentagon have maintained official silence regarding the dock strike, breaking from established precedent where the Defense Department typically releases visual evidence confirming such operations. This departure from standard procedure raises questions about the nature and location of the strike, particularly whether it occurred within Venezuelan territorial waters.