Donald Trump did not rule out expanding US military operations beyond Venezuela to Mexico and Colombia.
The president said in a interview taped this week that he would consider using military force on two US allies in Latin America.
Trump cited Mexico and Colombia’s drug trade into the US as he continues threatening to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Mexico is the primary country for trafficking a variety of narcotics, including heroin, fentanyl and cocaine, into the US. Colombia is the largest producer of the latter substance.
Since early September, the Trump administration has launched 22 strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels in both the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in at least 87 deaths.
‘Sure, I would,’ Trump said when asked by Politico if he would consider using force against targets in other Latin American countries with highly active drug trades.
A substantial US military force consisting of naval warships and special ground forces has been deployed to the Caribbean to pressure Maduro’s regime in Venezuela.
‘I don’t want to rule in or out. I don’t talk about it,’ Trump said when asked about deploying troops to Venezuela. ‘I don’t want to talk to you about military strategy.’