Trump keeps military option on table in Venezuela standoff

In a phone interview with NBC News published on Friday, Trump said he would not rule out war. “I don’t rule it out, no,” he stated.

Stance on Maduro and regime change

Trump declined to clarify whether he seeks the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who has accused Washington of pursuing regime change.

“He knows exactly what I want,” Trump said, adding, “He knows better than anybody.”

Oil blockade and tanker seizures

The US president said further seizures of oil tankers were likely, after US forces last week took control of a tanker leaving Venezuela. Trump recently announced a blockade targeting sanctioned oil shipments as part of the pressure campaign.

Military buildup in the Caribbean

Trump has fueled uncertainty over Washington’s long-term objectives in Venezuela after significantly increasing the US military presence in the Caribbean in recent months.

He has accused Maduro of leading a “narco-terrorist” network, while US forces have conducted multiple strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats since September, resulting in more than 100 deaths.

Focus shifts to Venezuela’s oil industry

In recent days, Trump has shifted attention toward Venezuela’s oil sector, which holds the world’s largest proven reserves. He accused Venezuela of “taking” US oil, a reference to the nationalisation of the country’s energy industry.

“They took all of our energy rights, they took all of our oil, from not that long ago, and we want it back,” Trump said.