Officials have briefed President Donald Trump on updated U.S. military options for potential operations in Venezuela. Options include possible land strikes, according to senior defense officials who spoke with CBS News, which first broke the story.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, and other senior military officials met with Trump at the White House on Wednesday to present new operational scenarios for the days ahead. Two officials told CBS that officials have not made any final decisions.
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The White House and Pentagon declined to comment. However, U.S. intelligence officials confirmed to CBS that the intelligence community contributed analysis for the potential operations.
Carrier strike group moves into position
The briefing came as the USS Gerald R. Ford — the world’s largest aircraft carrier — entered the U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility, which covers the Caribbean and South America. The Ford joins a fleet of destroyers, fighter jets and special operations assets already operating in the region.
Over the past two months, U.S. forces have conducted more than 20 strikes on vessels allegedly tied to South American drug traffickers. Military officials say the operations have killed at least 80 suspected smugglers.
At a defense summit on Wednesday in Indiana, Hegseth defended the campaign. He warned that any drug traffickers tied to terrorist organizations would be “found and killed.”
Risky move, unclear legal path
Sources told ABC News, which later confirmed the CBS report, that Trump’s options range from taking no action to ordering targeted airstrikes on Venezuelan seaports, airfields and military installations.
Officials caution that an attack is not imminent and that any move against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro could carry significant risk — potentially creating a power vacuum or sparking regional instability.
Lawmakers briefed last month on potential targets inside Venezuela said the administration’s current legal rationale only covers the ongoing maritime operations, not a direct strike on Venezuelan soil.
