JUST IN: Trump Makes Big Transfer Clearing Manner For Potential Escalation In Venezuela
President Donald Trump said Sunday he may open talks with Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro as the United States ramps up military pressure with another strike on a suspected drug boat and the arrival of its most advanced aircraft carrier.
The hint of a diplomatic path came after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. would designate the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization. Washington alleges the group is run by Maduro.
The designation, set to take effect Nov. 24, places the cartel in the same category as Hamas and the Islamic State. It allows the U.S. government to seize assets and makes it illegal to provide “material support” to the group.
Maduro denies any connection to drug trafficking and accuses Washington of “fabricating” a war against him.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said the U.S. “may be having some discussions with Maduro” and that “they would like to talk.” He did not offer more details.
Asked whether the terror label could allow the U.S. to target Maduro’s personal assets, Trump said, “It allows us to do that, but we haven’t said we’re going to do that.”
Trump spoke after U.S. Southern Command confirmed on X that it struck an alleged drug boat in the eastern Pacific on Saturday, killing three people.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the strike, Southern Command said. The post alleged the vessel was “operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization” and was “trafficking narcotics in the Eastern Pacific.” It said the strike occurred in international waters.
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“Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics,” the post said.
Video released by Southern Command shows a surge of water next to the vessel followed by flames engulfing it.
The U.S. has now carried out at least 21 strikes on suspected drug boats during Trump’s second term. NBC News reported last week that the 20th strike was in the Caribbean Sea. Previous operations in both the Caribbean and eastern Pacific have killed more than 75 people, according to officials.
Sunday’s announcement came as the USS Gerald R. Ford arrived in the Caribbean.
Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine met with Trump on Friday and briefed him on possible military options against Venezuela, according to a senior White House official and a second U.S. official familiar with the meeting.
The officials said the president has been meeting frequently with his national security team. For now, Trump is satisfied with the strikes on suspected drug vessels, the senior official said. Both officials noted that he has also expressed interest in potential land strikes.
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