Trump open to Venezuela talks after another deadly 'drugboat' strike
發佈日期: 2025-11-17 23:18
TVB News
The United States conducted another attack on an alleged drug trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific on Saturday, killing three people aboard, the Pentagon said.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he was open to talks with Venezuela as Washington ramps up pressure in the Caribbean.
The US Southern Command announced in a social media post that it received intelligence that the vessel was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling along a known route and that it was carrying drugs.
The statement said the vessel was in international waters when it was hit by the Joint Task Force Southern Spear.
It was the 21st known attack on drug boats by the US military since early September in what it has called a justified effort to disrupt the flow of narcotics into the United States.
The strikes have killed more than 80 people, Pentagon figures say. Lawmakers in the US Congress, human rights groups and US allies have raised questions about the legality of the attacks.
The Trump administration has said it has the legal authority to carry out the strikes.
Meanwhile, Trump said that the U.S. "may be having some discussions" with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
"And, we may be discussing," said Trump. "We may be having some discussions with Maduro and we'll see how that turns out, they would like to talk. Venezuela would like to talk. What does it mean? You tell me. I don't know. I talk to anybody, I talk to you, right? I talk to anybody, We will see what happens."
This as the US further builds up its military presence near the South American country with the arrival of its most advanced aircraft carrier.
The administration said the presence of USS Gerald R Ford and other warships marks a significant moment in the counter-drug operation while also applying more pressure on Maduro.
It is the largest build-up of US firepower in the region in generations, involving almost a dozen Navy ships and 12,000 sailors and Marines.
