Donald Trump has once again raised alarms about U.S. foreign policy, this time by openly refusing to rule out a military conflict with Venezuela as tensions between the two countries continue to escalate.
In a recent phone interview with NBC News, Trump was asked directly whether his actions toward Venezuela could lead to war. His response was blunt: he does not rule it out. The remarks came shortly after his administration ordered what it described as a “blockade” of oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, dramatically increasing pressure on President Nicolás Maduro’s government.
Trump has also labeled Venezuela’s leadership a “designated terrorist organization,” a move that signals a sharp escalation in rhetoric and policy. According to the administration, the goal is to cut off oil revenues that it claims are being used to fund drug trafficking and other criminal activities. Critics, however, warn that such claims have been used historically to justify aggressive U.S. intervention abroad.
When pressed about whether these actions could spark a wider conflict, Trump initially said he would not discuss the possibility. Moments later, he acknowledged that war remains on the table and suggested that additional oil tankers could be seized in the future.
Asked about timing, Trump told NBC that it would depend on Venezuela’s actions, implying that vessels attempting to move oil could be redirected or detained by U.S. forces. The administration maintains that recent operations have targeted alleged drug trafficking routes, accusing Venezuela of using oil profits to finance what it calls “drug terrorism.”
The standoff between Washington and Caracas has been building for weeks. Trump has steadily increased pressure on Maduro while amplifying military messaging. Earlier this week, he claimed on his Truth Social platform that Venezuela was “surrounded by the largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America,” a statement that immediately drew international attention and concern.
Trump has also warned of expanding the U.S. military presence in the region unless Venezuela’s government returns oil assets, land, and other holdings he claims were taken from American interests. Analysts note that this appears to reference Venezuela’s past nationalization of U.S.-linked energy and industrial assets, policies that long predate the current crisis.
Adding to the uncertainty, Trump has previously suggested the possibility of land strikes inside Venezuela, further heightening fears of a direct confrontation.
For many observers, these developments raise serious questions about the risks of escalation, the use of military power to resolve economic disputes, and the broader consequences for regional stability in Latin America. As history has shown, aggressive posturing and economic blockades can quickly spiral into conflicts with lasting humanitarian and geopolitical costs.
Whether this strategy is meant as leverage or represents a genuine path toward war remains unclear but the implications are impossible to ignore.
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