NewsTrump says ‘days numbered’ for Venezuela’s MaduroThe US president sent mixed signals over his plans for Venezuela as his military build-up in the Caribbean continues.
President Donald Trump has sent mixed signals over the potential for a United States military intervention in Venezuela, as he dismissed talk of “war” but threatened the South American country’s leader.
President Donald Trump has sent mixed signals over the potential for a United States military intervention in Venezuela, as he dismissed talk of “war” but threatened the South American country’s leader.
During a CBS interview, released on Sunday, the president warned that President Nicholas Maduro’s days are numbered. The comment came amid a build-up of US military units in the Caribbean, where the US has conducted multiple strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels that UN officials and scholars say are in clear violation of US and international law.
Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Venezuela’s Maduro says the US is ‘fabricating’ a war against himlist 2 of 4Is Trump pushing for regime change in Venezuela; where else is he meddling?list 3 of 4US military kills three in another strike on Caribbean vessellist 4 of 4Trump says not planning US strikes on Venezuelaend of list Asked if the US was going to war against Venezuela, Trump replied: “I doubt it. I don’t think so.”
However, when asked if Maduro’s days as president were numbered, the president replied: “I would say yeah. I think so.”
US media outlets have reported that Washington is planning strikes on military installations in Venezuela as part of its war against “narco-terrorism”.
During a CBS interview, released on Sunday, the president warned that President Nicholas Maduro’s days are numbered.
Trump appeared to deny that he is planning attacks inside Venezuela, although he did not rule the idea out completely.
“I wouldn’t be inclined to say that I would do that,” he said. “I’m not going to tell you what I’m going to do with Venezuela.”
Maduro, who faces indictment in the US on drug trafficking charges, has accused Washington of using a drug offensive as a pretext for “imposing regime change” in Caracas to seize Venezuelan oil.
The US military has carried out more than a dozen strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and the Pacific in recent weeks, killing at least 65 people. The campaign has prompted criticism from governments across the region.
Advertisement UN human rights chief Volker Turk and rights groups say the attacks, which began in early September, amount to “extrajudicial killings” even if they target known traffickers.
Washington has yet to make public any evidence that its targets were smuggling narcotics or posed a threat to the US.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.