Trump says he is not considering strikes within Venezuela
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Donald Trump on Friday denied he was considering strikes inside Venezuela, even amid reports that the United States may expand its counter-drug campaign in the Caribbean.
The United States has built up a large military presence in the Caribbean in recent months, with fighter jets, warships and thousands of troops. That presence will significantly expand in the coming weeks with the arrival of the Gerald Ford aircraft carrier strike group.
In recent weeks, Trump has publicly said that his administration will carry out strikes against drug-related targets inside Venezuela.
But on Friday, when asked by reporters on Air Force One if media reports that he was considering strikes within Venezuela were true, Trump said: “No.”
(Reporting by Nandita Bose and Steve Holland in WashingtonEditing by Humeyra Pamuk and Franmklin Paul)
