Washington: US President Donald Trump indicated that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's time in power might be coming to an end as the situation intensifies with the presence of American military forces in the Caribbean. In an interview with CBS News' 60 Minutes, aired on Sunday, Trump was questioned by host Norah O'Donnell about whether Maduro's presidency was nearing its conclusion. Trump responded affirmatively, suggesting that Maduro's days are indeed numbered, although he dismissed the possibility of engaging in a war against Venezuela.
According to Anadolu Agency, Trump refrained from confirming speculations regarding potential land strikes in Venezuela. He stated, "I wouldn't be inclined to say that I would do that," while withholding further details. On Friday, Trump also denied media reports suggesting imminent strikes on Venezuelan military installations, clarifying to reporters that he had not made any decisions on the matter.
Various US media outlets had reported that the Trump administration was planning strikes on Venezuelan military installations as part of its purported campaign against 'narco-terrorism,' with an expectation of attacks occurring soon. Washington has accused Maduro of leading the Cartel de los Soles, a criminal organization based in Venezuela, which was designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) organization by the US in July.
Since early September, at least 14 strikes have been conducted, primarily in the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific, resulting in over 64 casualties. These operations have been met with criticism from rights groups and legal experts, who question the legality of such US strikes on alleged drug boats, arguing that they breach international law.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk condemned the attacks as 'unacceptable' and called for an independent investigation into what his office described as extrajudicial killings. In response, Maduro accused the US of instigating a fabricated war against Venezuela, labeling the allegations as 'vulgar' and 'totally fake.' He asserted that Venezuela does not produce cocaine leaves and claimed that US military activities near its coast indicate plans for 'a new, eternal war.'