Ground Attacks on Drug Traffickers to Begin – Observer
- US President Donald Trump announced this friday that ground attacks against drug traffickers in Venezuela "will start happening soon".
- "All the boats that were shot down saved 25,000 American lives. We ended up with 96% of the drugs that came by water.
- In the Oval Office, in statements to journalists, Donald Trump specified that the ground attacks "will not necessarily have to be in Venezuela": "the people who are bringing...
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Trump Announces Potential Ground Attacks in Venezuela Targeting Drug Traffickers
Background and Initial Announcement
US President Donald Trump announced this friday that ground attacks against drug traffickers in Venezuela “will start happening soon”.
????BREAKING: Trump CONFIRMS LAND WAR in Venezuela is STARTING.
– Spencer Hakimian (@SpencerHakimian) december 12, 2025
“All the boats that were shot down saved 25,000 American lives. We ended up with 96% of the drugs that came by water. And now we’re going to start on land. on land it’s easier. And it will start to happen. We will not let [as drogas] destroy our families.”, said Donald Trump.
Targeting Individuals, Not Necessarily Venezuela
In the Oval Office, in statements to journalists, Donald Trump specified that the ground attacks “will not necessarily have to be in Venezuela”: “the people who are bringing drugs” to The United States will be the targets.
The North American Head of state said that “you can no longer see boats” off the coast of Venezuela after the attacks. Asked whether the United States will seize more oil tankers off the Venezuelan coast, Donald Trump did not give an answer: “It wouldn’t be very smart of me to say that.”
Claims of Success and Past Controversies
Trump stated that the US Governance has eliminated drug trafficking “to levels never seen before”, specifically, “96% of drugs that arrive by sea”, ironizing the remaining 4%, in a reference to the attacks carried out by US forces in the Caribbean Sea against ships that were allegedly transporting drugs and for which Trump was accused of committing “extrajudicial murders”.
With laug
Context and Analysis
The History of US-Venezuela Relations
US-venezuela relations have been strained for decades,notably as the rise of Hugo Chávez and the subsequent socialist governments. The US has imposed sanctions on Venezuelan officials and entities, citing concerns about human rights abuses, corruption, and the country’s democratic backsliding. Venezuela, in turn, has accused the US of meddling in its internal affairs and supporting opposition efforts to overthrow the government. This history provides a crucial backdrop to Trump’s announcement.
The Drug Trafficking Landscape
Venezuela has become a significant transit route for drugs, particularly cocaine, destined for the United States and Europe. The political and economic instability in Venezuela has created an habitat conducive to