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US to launch new phase of Venezuela operations, sources say
Reuters.com ^ | 22, 20256:31 PM CST | Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali

Posted on 11/22/2025 5:18:10 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum

Summary

WASHINGTON, Nov 22 (Reuters) - The United States is poised to launch a new phase of Venezuela-related operations in the coming days, four U.S. officials told Reuters, as the Trump administration escalates pressure on President Nicolas Maduro's government.

Reuters was not able to establish the exact timing or scope of the new operations, nor whether U.S. President Donald Trump had made a final decision to act. Reports of looming action have proliferated in recent weeks as the U.S. military has deployed forces to the Caribbean amid worsening relations with Venezuela.

Two of the U.S. officials said covert operations would likely be the first part of the new action against Maduro. All four officials quoted in this article spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of impending action by the United States.

The Pentagon referred questions to the White House. The CIA declined to comment.

A senior administration official on Saturday did not rule anything out regarding Venezuela.

"President Trump is prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice," said the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The Trump administration has been weighing Venezuela-related options to combat what it has portrayed as Maduro’s role in supplying illegal drugs that have killed Americans. He has denied having any links to the illegal drug trade.

Two U.S. officials told Reuters the options under consideration included attempting to overthrow Maduro.

Maduro, in power since 2013, has contended that Trump seeks to oust him and that Venezuelan citizens and...

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: 2026demswipedup; 2026wipeout; 2026wipeoutmassie; 2026wipeoutrinos; 2028demswipedup; captainpainttroll; enemieslist; enemyjournalists; foreignagentsonfr; frcartellovers; frcartelwhores; frdutroll; frneocons; frwarlovers; frwarwhores; howaboutno; howaboutshutup; idreesali; ivotedagainsthis; looselips; makewargreatagain; morewarplease; notourproblem; philstewart; randpaulisatraitor; randstandswithmaduro; randstandwithcartels; rootersnooz; stayoutofvenezuela; stayoutthebushes; venezuela; welovewarnow
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1 posted on 11/22/2025 5:18:10 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
speaking on the condition of anonymity.

You can always trust Reuters to keep their word.

2 posted on 11/22/2025 5:19:27 PM PST by aspasia
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

One good bullet and Valenzuela will be free—even Venezuela!


3 posted on 11/22/2025 5:21:30 PM PST by Fungi
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To: Fungi

One good bullet and Valenzuela will be free—even Venezuela!


Well not Fernando. RIP.


4 posted on 11/22/2025 5:22:13 PM PST by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

No more foreign escapades until Russia and Ukraine are at peace.


5 posted on 11/22/2025 6:36:04 PM PST by exPBRrat
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To: Fungi
One good bullet and Valenzuela will be free...

Maduro was the successor to Hugo Chavez. It was not an improvement.

There is no reason to suppose that the successor to Maduro will be an improvement. It might happen that way, but it could also get worse. And that is the way to bet (IMO).

Venezuela has been fractured by serious ethnic conflicts and resentments between the prosperous European-descended upper classes and several layers of Mestizo and Indian lower classes. That was the primary basis by which both Chavez and Maduro held on to power. That basis is still available to the next Presidente. It will be tough to resist using it.

Bleeding out the middle class to pass out goodies to the lower classes has worked pretty well for the dictators. At least as long as there is some middle class left to bleed.

Some timely assistance from Chinese and Russians helped a bit too.

And then there is the drug smuggling money. That keeps the generals and a lot of other people quite happy. The oil money is still good too, though they are running short of talent to maintain those facilities.

It will take more than replacement of one man to fix the problems in Venezuela.

6 posted on 11/22/2025 7:13:10 PM PST by flamberge (Things which cannot continue - don't.)
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To: flamberge

No, but it will be a start for the population to rebel and take back the country, unless they want the status quo.


7 posted on 11/22/2025 7:20:19 PM PST by Fungi
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Six airlines halt flights to Venezuela after US warns of rising military risks

https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20251123-six-airlines-halt-flights-to-venezuela-after-us-warns-of-rising-military-risks


8 posted on 11/23/2025 12:19:42 AM PST by Texan4Life
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To: Fungi

“One good bullet and Valenzuela will be free.”

It doesn’t work that way, no profits in that. The MIC has to rape the American taxpayers for 10-20 years... Venezuela will be our new Vietnam. Only it is not going to be half the way around the world, it is going to be right in our own backyard.


9 posted on 11/23/2025 2:13:27 AM PST by Openurmind (AI - An Illusion for Aptitude Intrusion to Alter Intellect. )
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To: Openurmind

Somebody has to bring that massive sour crude patch back on line.


10 posted on 11/23/2025 2:20:15 AM PST by Kudsman (Remember the Alamo? Good. Now recall the Plaskett surrender. )
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To: Kudsman

The same Corporations who own the MIC also own the Oil industry. So it s a two for one. Along with the CIA wanting to be in control of the drug trade through there. Be ready, the reason the CIA is going in there is to create a false flag to kick this thing off. My bet is on them commandeering a Venezuelan missile battery and firing on our own ships to kick it off. Or a boat attacking one of our ships. Another Gulf of Tonkin event. Their playbook is pretty predictable.


11 posted on 11/23/2025 2:31:28 AM PST by Openurmind (AI - An Illusion for Aptitude Intrusion to Alter Intellect. )
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To: Openurmind
You could prove to be very prescient.

Or an airliner whoopsie? Because no "rogue" nation has ever downed an plane full of nobodies before. Hence the "warning" to commercial flights. Can't say they weren't warned.

12 posted on 11/23/2025 2:41:46 AM PST by Kudsman (Remember the Alamo? Good. Now recall the Plaskett surrender. )
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To: Kudsman

I know one thing... The ignorant have some idea it is going to be a cakewalk. They thought the same thing about Vietnam and we lost to a 3rd world people. I have been in the SA jungles and it is no cake walk. Far from it... Much more hostile of an environment than Vietnam. The environment itself will kill you long before the enemy even has the chance.


13 posted on 11/23/2025 2:48:28 AM PST by Openurmind (AI - An Illusion for Aptitude Intrusion to Alter Intellect. )
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To: Kudsman

That is true, downing a plane is another avenue of false flag.


14 posted on 11/23/2025 2:50:58 AM PST by Openurmind (AI - An Illusion for Aptitude Intrusion to Alter Intellect. )
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To: Openurmind

Yes. And we still have the Panama Canal to retake before this 4 years are up. Should be interesting. At least we are setting the agenda now instead of just playing knee jerk reaction games.


15 posted on 11/23/2025 2:54:05 AM PST by Kudsman (Remember the Alamo? Good. Now recall the Plaskett surrender. )
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