What we know about Trump’s plans on attacking Venezuela: The reason behind the U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean
The US president who has claimed to have stopped several wars may be on the verge of starting one in Venezuela based on military buildup in the Caribbean.
Senior officials in the Trump administration have been holding meetings over the past week to discuss possible options for US military operations in Venezuela reports Reuters. These come as tensions continue to escalate between the White House and the Maduro regime in Caracas while the United States builds up military assets in the Caribbean amidst attacks on boats allegedly transporting illegal drugs.
President Trump told reporters on Air force One that he had “sort of” made up his mind on how he would proceed with Venezuela but that he couldn’t tell them what that was, merely saying that “we made a lot of progress... in terms of stopping drugs from pouring in.”
The reason behind the US military buildup in the Caribbean
The Trump administration claims that its massive military buildup in the Caribbean is part of its efforts to stop deadly illegal drugs from being trafficked to the United States. However, others see the deployment of a wide range of US military assets as preparations for a possible invasion of Venezuela with the idea of toppling the Maduro regime.
It turns out the real reason Trump wants to attack Venezuela is, you guessed it, oil. pic.twitter.com/hsvoEYb5E1
— More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) November 14, 2025
Just this past week, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest warship, and the aircraft carrier’s strike group arrived in the Caribbean as part of Operation Southern Spear.
The operation now includes a number of Navy vessels including a fast-attack nuclear submarine. Additionally, a major amphibious force with about 4,500 Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit has also been deployed.
Air assets include F-35B fighter jets, V-22 Ospreys, MQ-9 Reaper drones, P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. As well the US military has sent B-52 and supersonic B-1B Lancer bombers on flybys off the coast of Venezuela. A retired Cold War US military base on Puerto Rico, Roosevelt Roads, has been reopened and upgraded, reports Reuters.
US continues to carry out “kinetic” strikes in Caribbean and Pacific
The White House began authorizing “kinetic” strikes on Venezuelan and other “narcoterroists” carrying illegal drugs headed for the United States in early September. Since then, over 20 strikes have been carried out in the Caribbean and Pacific against suspected drug vessels, reportedly killing over 80 people.
Someone, please make this make sense.
— Christopher Webb (@cwebbonline) November 14, 2025
Trump wants to attack Venezuela because the cartel must be stopped, yet he pardons drug traffickers here at home.
Something stinks here. pic.twitter.com/1Kx6wfl1Jn
These actions have drawn rebuke from Venezuela, Colombia, members of Congress, and US allies, who have called them violations of international law and “extrajudicial executions.” The Trump administration claims that it is defending US national security but has not provided proof that the targeted boats were actually carrying drugs.
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