Trump says “Maduro’s days are numbered” and threatens Venezuela’s sovereignty

In an interview published on the official profile of the United States government on the X network, President Donald Trump stated that he believes that Nicolás Maduro’s days in power “are numbered”. The declaration increased the climate of tension between Washington and Caracas, amid the intensification of American military operations in the Caribbean.

The information was published this Monday (3) by the portal G1which reproduced excerpts from the interview. Asked by a reporter if “Maduro’s days as president are numbered”, Trump replied: “I would say yes, I think so”. When asked about possible ground attacks on Venezuela, the president preferred neither to confirm nor deny: “Because I wouldn’t tell a reporter what I would attack,” he said.

Caribbean on alert

The military escalation led Trinidad and Tobago to place its Armed Forces on “general alert”. In a statement obtained by the AFP agency, the Army ordered all soldiers to immediately return to their bases and prepare for “immediate confinement”.

The warning occurs in the context of American mobilization in the region, officially aimed at combating drug trafficking, but interpreted by Caracas as a “threat” and part of an alleged “regime change” plan.

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force document, “the TTDF is at ALERT LEVEL ONE. All members must report to their respective bases.” The text also advises soldiers to “make arrangements with their families and the necessary personal preparations”.

US military operation increases tensions

The previous month, Washington began a broad naval operation in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific against vessels suspected of involvement in drug trafficking. Since then, more than 60 people have died.

The Venezuelan government accuses the United States of using the operation as a pretext to destabilize the country and try to overthrow Maduro, while denying any involvement in drug trafficking.

The presence of a North American warship in joint exercises with Trinidad and Tobago was classified by Caracas as a “military provocation”. THE Wall Street Journal reported that Washington is even considering bombing Venezuelan bases, but the Pentagon has not confirmed the information.

US Army releases videos in the Caribbean

The United States Southern Command published images of Marines firing machine guns in the Caribbean Sea. According to an official statement, the forces are deployed “in support of the Southern Command mission, operations determined by the Department of War and the president’s priorities to stop illicit trafficking and protect American territory.”

The military reinforcement includes destroyers equipped with missile launchers, F-35 fighters, a nuclear submarine and thousands of soldiers. Since September, ten suspected trafficking vessels have been bombed, raising diplomatic tensions between Washington and Caracas.

International reaction

The United Nations (UN) called on the United States to immediately halt attacks on suspected trafficking boats. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, classified the actions as “extrajudicial executions”.

“These attacks, with their growing human cost, are unacceptable. The United States must put an end to such attacks and take all necessary measures to prevent extrajudicial killings, regardless of any alleged criminal activity,” Türk said in a statement.

Colombia also condemned American actions, aligning itself with Caracas’ position in denouncing an attempt at “regime change” in Venezuela.