Trump assures that he “does not rule out” the possibility of war with Venezuela

Donald Trump and his advisers refused to rule out the possibility of an open conflict with Venezuela. “We have the right to use all of our national power to defend the U.S. interest. All countries do. We simply have more power than some of them,” said Marco Rubio.

The President of the USA, Donald Trumpstated this Friday that he “does not rule out” the possibility of a war with Venezuela, days after having ordered a “blockade” of tankers entering and leaving the South American country and at a time when bombings against speedboats in the Caribbean Sea continue, with the argument that it is a action against drug trafficking.

“I don’t rule it out, no”, said Trump in an interview with the North American television network NBC, cited by .

The American president stressed that “don’t argue” if its most recent measures, including the bombings, which have already claimed more than a hundred lives, and the seizure of a Venezuelan tanker off the country’s coast, could lead to conflict with the South American country.

Trump also left open the possibility of ordering new attacks on vessels in the area. When asked about possible developments in the near future, he replied that “It depends. If they are stupid enough and continue browsing, will end up sailing to one of our ports“, he warned.

He also refused to clarify whether the objective of these actions by the USA is overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolás Madurowho Donald Trump says “knows exactly” what Washington wants. “You know it better than anyone else”, he added.

But Susie Wiles, his chief of staff, said in an interview published this week in Vanity Fair that Trump “wants to continue blowing up boats until Maduro gives up”, calling into question the administration’s claims that law enforcement was the main objective of US military reinforcement.

Donald Trump’s statements come hours after the US president maintained that Congressional approval is not required for Washington to carry out a ground attack on Venezuelan territory, with the declared objective of act against drug cartels — something Caracas describes as a pretext to justify an invasion.

Also at a year-end press conference at the State Department, Marco Rubio reiterated statements made by other senior Trump advisers that the US could coerce Maduro through its campaign of attacks on alleged drug trafficking boats traveling towards the country.

“We reserve the right, and have the right, to use all elements of national power to defend the national interest of the United States” Rubio said. “And no one can dispute that. All countries in the world reserve the same right. We simply have more power than some of them.”