President Donald Trump has doubled down on his administration’s plan to expand U.S. military action against Venezuelan drug-trafficking networks, telling reporters at the White House that land-based operations are coming next.
“We’re going to start doing those strikes on land, too,” Trump said while speaking to reporters on Wednesday.
“You know, the land is much easier, much easier.
“And we know the routes they take.
“We know everything about them.
“We know where they live,” the president revealed.
“We know where the bad ones live, and we’re going to start that very soon, too.”
WATCH:
.@POTUS on Venezuelan drug traffickers: “Every boat we knock out, we save 25,000 American lives. If you look at our numbers, the drugs coming in through sea are down 91%… and we’re going to start very soon on land.” pic.twitter.com/47cHE0G4SN
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 3, 2025
The president’s comments mirror earlier statements this week and signal a clear escalation from maritime interdictions to potential operations on Venezuelan territory.
Expanding Operation Southern Spear
U.S. military involvement in the region was first launched in September 2025 under Operation Southern Spear, a U.S. Southern Command initiative targeting narco-terrorist routes originating from Venezuelan ports.
To date, 21 maritime strikes have been carried out, resulting in 83 fatalities, according to Pentagon reports and assessments from the Council on Foreign Relations.
Since August, the U.S. has executed the largest Caribbean force buildup since the 1980s, deploying:
- The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group
- A nuclear submarine
- Seven advanced warships
- F-35 fighters and B-52 bombers
- Roughly 10,000 personnel stationed across Puerto Rico, Florida, and partner bases
The War Department has emphasized that the goal is to sever fentanyl and cocaine pipelines into the United States.
Maduro Regime at the Center of Narco-Terror Allegations
At the heart of U.S. strategy is the long-running federal case against Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
The Justice Department indicted Maduro and 14 regime officials in 2020 for narco-terrorism, accusing him of running the Cartel de los Soles.
The Venezuelan military-linked syndicate works with Colombia’s FARC guerrillas to move multi-ton cocaine shipments into the U.S.
Prosecutors also allege the network engages in human smuggling, arms trafficking, and money laundering.
The State Department has raised its reward for Maduro’s capture to $50 million, one of the highest bounties in U.S. history.
Both the Treasury and State Departments have escalated designations against the regime:
- Cartel de los Soles: Specially Designated Global Terrorist
- Later designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO)
- Sanctions extend to affiliates like Tren de Aragua, another notorious Venezuelan criminal enterprise
These designations freeze assets, criminalize material support, initiate secondary sanctions, and trigger immigration restrictions.
Diplomacy Still on the Table
Despite the heightened posture, Trump has indicated he is open to a negotiated exit for Maduro.
During a call on November 21, Trump offered the Venezuelan dictator safe haven for him and his family if he resigned immediately.
According to the Miami Herald, Maduro demanded sanctions relief and global amnesty, which the administration rejected.
Still, Venezuela approved the resumption of U.S. deportation flights on December 3, enabling over 13,000 returns so far this year.
While the move suggests potential cooperation, follow-up talks have stalled.
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