Trump vows ground offensive in Venezuela to "stop the poison at its source"

President Donald Trump has announced a dramatic military escalation, declaring that the United States will soon conduct ground operations inside Venezuela. The stated goal is to dismantle drug trafficking networks and enforce sanctions, directly targeting the South American nation's territory.

From sea to land: a new front opens

The declaration came during a White House press briefing on Friday. Trump cited a claimed 92% reduction in drug smuggling via maritime routes as proof that naval pressure works, justifying the move to a new theater. "We're going to start doing it by land now, too. It's going to start on land very soon," the President stated, framing it as the logical next step to "stop the poison at its source." He connected the action to broader grievances, including illegal immigration and sanctions evasion linked to the Maduro government.

Tanker seizure sets the stage

The announcement follows the recent US seizure of a fuel tanker off Venezuela's coast. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted the vessel was carrying oil for Iran's sanctioned Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This action, defended as sanctions enforcement, now appears as a prelude to more direct intervention. The administration has dismissed concerns about inflaming regional tensions, signaling a willingness to pursue unilateral ground operations against a sovereign nation's narcotics infrastructure.

A perilous precedent and global reaction

Threatening ground troops marks a severe intensification of US policy, moving beyond sanctions and naval interdiction to active military incursion. Such a move would challenge international norms of sovereignty and risk broader conflict in Latin America. It is watched with deep concern by nations like Türkiye, which consistently advocates for diplomatic solutions, respect for territorial integrity, and peaceful dispute resolution, viewing stability in any region as interconnected with global security.