US President Donald Trump has renewed his accusation that Venezuela is sending gang members and drugs to the United States, which he said was 'not acceptable'.
Tension has been high between the two countries since the US deployed warships to the Southern Caribbean on what officials said were counter-narcotics operations.
As part of that deployment, the US launched an attack on a boat said to be carrying drugs from Venezuela, killing all 11 people on board.
Asked by a journalist whether the US would now 'start doing strikes on mainland Venezuela', Trump answered: 'We'll see what happens.'
Speaking to reporters in New Jersey, the president said Venezuela was 'sending us their gang members, their drug dealers and drugs'. He noted that maritime traffic in the Southern Caribbean had reduced significantly 'since the first strike'.
Experts raised questions about the legality of the attack on September 2, saying it may have violated international law. Venezuela responded by flying two F-16 fighter jets over a US Navy destroyer two days later.
This led Trump to warn that any Venezuelan jets putting 'us in a dangerous situation' would be shot down.
Tensions flared again on Saturday when Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil accused US forces of boarding a Venezuelan vessel.
Gil claimed the vessel, a 'small, harmless' fishing boat, was seized 'illegally and hostilely' for eight hours.
The Venezuelan foreign ministry alleged those who ordered the seizure were 'looking for an incident to justify escalating war in the Caribbean, with the aim of regime change' in Caracas.
The US and many other nations have not recognised the re-election of Nicolás Maduro in July 2024, alleging electoral interference. US officials are offering a reward for information leading to Maduro's capture, accusing him of leading a drug cartel.
Maduro denies these allegations, accusing the US of imperialism and calling on Venezuelans to defend their nation by enlisting in the militia.
Public sector workers report being pressured into joining the militia.
