“ The administration of US President Donald Trump has developed a series of aggressive military scenarios to topple Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, which include airstrikes, special forces operations to capture or eliminate him. While Trump has yet to make a final decision, his key advisers are pushing for a forceful scenario, and the Justice Department is working to create a legal framework to bypass Congress. Source: The New York Times, citing multiple US officials Details: Amid growing tensions with Venezuela, the White House is considering the most radical measures to remove Nicolas Maduro from power. According to the publication, key supporters of military intervention are Secretary of State Marco Rubio (who also serves as national security adviser) and Trump’s deputy head of the administration, Stephen Miller. They believe that the overthrow of the Venezuelan leader is a priority task. Trump himself is still hesitating, fearing that the operation could fail and turn into a “disgraceful defeat”. However, his main motivation and the subject of constant questions to advisers is the potential benefit to the US, in particular, gaining control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, which are the largest in the world. Preparations for a possible operation are already underway. Since the end of August, the United States has been steadily increasing its military presence in the Caribbean. About 10,000 American servicemen are already stationed in the region. The newest and largest US aircraft carrier, the Gerald R. Ford, is expected to arrive there in the middle of the month, with 5,000 sailors and more than 75 aircraft on board. Trump will likely make a final decision after the aircraft carrier arrives. Currently, Trump has three main options for military action. The first option involves airstrikes on military facilities and units loyal to Maduro, with the aim of provoking him to flee and making him vulnerable to capture. Critics of such an approach warn that it can have the opposite effect of rallying support around a leader in dire straits. The second, more risky option involves the involvement of elite special forces, such as Delta Force (one of the most classified units of the first level of secrecy of the special operations forces of the US Armed Forces, whose priority task is the fight against terrorism) or a team of “seals” (SEAL Team Six), for the direct capture or elimination of Maduro. The most complex and large-scale plan involves the landing of American special forces in order to take control of airfields, oil fields and other critical infrastructure of the country. These two options are accompanied by a much higher risk for the lives of special forces and the civilian population, the publication notes. The Trump administration is seeking a legal loophole to circumvent long-standing US legal bans on the assassination of foreign leaders and to act without formal authorization from Congress. The Department of Justice is developing a doctrine that would recognize Maduro and his entourage as central figures in the Cartel de los Soles narco-terrorist group. This definition, according to administration lawyers, makes Maduro a legitimate military target. Trump’s interest in Venezuelan oil is central to this crisis. Even while considering military options, the administration renewed the license for the US oil company Chevron, the last pillar of Venezuela’s economy. The company is playing a tricky game, hiring a lobbyist in Washington from among Trump’s top fundraisers while getting assurances from Maduro that he wants to see Chevron in the country for “another 100 years.” Maduro himself is trying to avoid conflict by offering Trump large-scale oil concessions and controlling stakes in oil companies. He promised to redirect exports from China to the US and limit contracts with Chinese, Iranian and Russian companies. However, in early October, Trump rejected this proposal, after which the build-up of US military forces only accelerated. The White House reckons that if Maduro is ousted, Chevron will be in the best position to develop Venezuela’s oil wealth. Background: On October 31, US President Donald Trump denied that he had made the decision to strike military targets in Venezuela, denying media reports that he had authorized such an attack.”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
Donald Trump. Photo: Getty Images Source: The New York Times with reference to numerous high-ranking American officials
Details: Amid growing tensions with Venezuela, the White House is considering the most radical measures to remove Nicolas Maduro from power. According to the publication, key supporters of military intervention are Secretary of State Marco Rubio (who also serves as national security adviser) and Trump’s deputy head of the administration, Stephen Miller. They believe that the overthrow of the Venezuelan leader is a priority task.
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Trump himself is still hesitating, fearing that the operation could fail and turn into a “disgraceful defeat”. However, his main motivation and the subject of constant questions to advisers is the potential benefit to the US, in particular, gaining control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, which are the largest in the world.
Preparations for a possible operation are already underway. Since the end of August, the United States has been steadily increasing its military presence in the Caribbean. About 10,000 American servicemen are already stationed in the region. It is expected that in the middle of the month there will arrive the newest and largest US aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford with 5 thousand sailors and more than 75 aircraft on board. Trump will likely make a final decision after the aircraft carrier arrives.
Currently, Trump has three main options for military action.
The first option involves airstrikes on military facilities and units loyal to Maduro, with the aim of provoking him to flee and making him vulnerable to capture.
Critics of such an approach warn that it can have the opposite effect of rallying support around a leader in dire straits.
The second, more risky option involves the involvement of elite special forces, such as Delta Force (one of the most classified units of the first level of secrecy of the special operations forces of the US Armed Forces) or the elite team of “sea seals” (SEAL Team Six), for direct capture or drugs ideas of Maduro.
The most complex and large-scale plan involves the landing of American special forces in order to take control of airfields, oil fields and other critical infrastructure of the country.
These two options are accompanied by a significantly higher risk for the lives of special forces and the civilian population, the publication notes.
The Trump administration is seeking a legal loophole to circumvent long-standing US legal bans on the assassination of foreign leaders and to act without formal authorization from Congress. The Department of Justice is developing a doctrine that would recognize Maduro and his entourage as central figures in the Cartel de los Soles narco-terrorist group. This definition, according to administration lawyers, makes Maduro a legitimate military target.
Trump’s interest in Venezuelan oil is central to this crisis. Even while considering military options, the administration renewed the license for the US oil company Chevron, the last pillar of Venezuela’s economy. The company is playing a tricky game, hiring a lobbyist in Washington from among Trump’s top fundraisers while getting assurances from Maduro that he wants to see Chevron in the country for “another 100 years.”
Maduro himself is trying to avoid conflict by offering Trump large-scale oil concessions and controlling stakes in oil companies. He promised to redirect exports from China to the US and limit contracts with Chinese, Iranian and Russian companies. However, in early October, Trump rejected this proposal, after which the build-up of US military forces only accelerated. The White House reckons that if Maduro is ousted, Chevron will be in the best position to develop Venezuela’s oil wealth.
Prehistory:
- October 31, US President Donald Trump deniedwho decided to strike military facilities in Venezuela, denying media reports that he had given consent to such an attack.