Trump Warns Venezuela: US Ships Protected by "Shoot-Down" Threat Against Rogue Jets

Trump Warns Venezuela: Jets Will Be 'Shot Down' if They Endanger US Ships In a statement made on Friday from the Oval Office, President Donald Trump warned that Venezuelan jets would be shot down if they pose a threat to U.S. ships. The warning comes as part of an escalating tensions between the two nations over anti-drug trafficking efforts in Latin America. According to sources present during the meeting, Trump told his general standing beside him that he could take any action necessary if the situation escalated. "Venezuela would be in trouble," Trump said, without elaborating on what specific actions he was referring to. The comments follow a series of events that have heightened tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela. In January, President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for his third term after a contested election, which has been widely criticized by international observers as illegitimate. The U.S. has accused Maduro's government of human rights abuses and corruption. When asked about Trump's comments, White House officials said that the president was simply reiterating his administration's commitment to combating drug trafficking in the region. "We're not talking about regime change through military threat," a spokesperson said. However, Trump did mention what he called a "very strange election" in Venezuela and accused Maduro of allowing drugs to flow into the U.S. The comments have been met with skepticism by some international observers, who point out that the U.S. has a history of intervening militarily in Latin American countries under the guise of combating drug trafficking. "This is just another example of the U.S. using its military might to impose its will on weaker nations," said Maria Pabón, a professor at the University of Buenos Aires. The situation is further complicated by the presence of thousands of U.S. troops in the southern Caribbean, who are deployed as part of an effort to stem the flow of drugs into the region. The deployment has been criticized by some as an overreach of U.S. military power and a threat to regional stability. As tensions between the two nations continue to escalate, it remains to be seen what actions the U.S. will take next. However, one thing is clear: the situation in Venezuela is becoming increasingly volatile, with far-reaching implications for the region and beyond. Background The U.S. has been intensifying its anti-drug trafficking efforts in Latin America since Trump's return to office in January. The administration has deployed thousands of troops to the southern Caribbean as part of an effort to combat the flow of drugs into the region. Additional Perspectives "This is a classic example of the U.S. using its military might to impose its will on weaker nations," said Maria Pabón, a professor at the University of Buenos Aires. "The situation in Venezuela is becoming increasingly volatile, and it's unclear what actions the U.S. will take next," said a spokesperson for the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry. Current Status Tensions between the two nations continue to escalate, with no clear resolution in sight. The situation remains closely watched by international observers, who are waiting to see how events unfold. *Reporting by Bbc.*