US officials brief Trump on military options for potential Venezuela operations

Senior United States military leaders have conducted comprehensive briefings with President Donald Trump regarding updated operational plans for potential military actions in Venezuela. According to sources familiar with White House discussions, the presentations included detailed options for ground strikes and other military interventions, though no final decisions have been reached regarding potential operations against the South American nation.

Military Leadership Participation

The high-level briefings involved Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine, and additional senior defense officials who outlined potential military strategies for the coming period. Intelligence agencies contributed supporting information for operational planning, though neither White House nor Pentagon representatives would provide official comments regarding the sensitive discussions. Two key administration officials—Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Secretary of State Marco Rubio—were absent from the meetings due to international travel commitments.

Regional Naval Deployment

The strategic discussions coincided with the USS Gerald Ford carrier strike group's movement into the US Southern Command operational area, joining destroyers, military aircraft, and special operations units already positioned throughout the Caribbean and South American region. The naval deployment represents a significant demonstration of US military capability in proximity to Venezuelan territory amid escalating regional tensions and ongoing political instability within the oil-rich nation.

Anti-Narcotics Operations Context

The Venezuela deliberations occur against the backdrop of intensified US anti-narcotics operations throughout South America. Over the past two months, American military forces have executed approximately twenty strikes against vessels suspected of drug trafficking, resulting in at least eighty suspected trafficker fatalities. Secretary Hegseth recently addressed the administration's counter-narcotics campaign during a defense summit in Indiana, emphasizing ongoing efforts to disrupt drug smuggling routes toward the United States.