Trump Says he has decided on next moves regarding Venezuela and Caribbean drug operations

U.S. President Donald Trump stated Friday that he has finalized a decision regarding the next steps his administration will take concerning Venezuela and ongoing operations targeting drug trafficking in the Caribbean.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One late Friday night, the President confirmed that a determination had been made but refused to disclose the specifics of the plan.

"In a way I have already made a decision," the President said, according to reports citing Bloomberg. When pressed for details, he added, "I can't tell you what it is, but we have made a lot of progress with Venezuela in terms of stopping the flow of drugs."

The statements arrive amid heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas following a significant U.S. military deployment to the region. The U.S. government has characterized the operation as necessary to combat maritime drug trafficking originating in Venezuela and moving toward the United States.

The operation, which Washington launched alleging a fight against narcotics, has included the deployment of major assets, such as the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, to the Caribbean.

The Trump administration has previously linked the military deployment to the need to combat drug flows, though some reports suggest the broader objective of the Washington deployment is to pressure or potentially overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The U.S. military presence has drawn sharp condemnation from Caracas. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro recently addressed the escalating situation, urging the American public to intervene and stop the aggressive posture.

Maduro called on the U.S. people to "stop the crazed hand of whoever orders a war to be brought to the Caribbean," in reference to the Washington-led operation.

In a televised address, Maduro also vowed that Venezuela would resist any attempt to destabilize the country, stating that it would not become "the Gaza of South America."

"Do we want another Gaza now in South America? What does the American people say? Let me tell you, no. Peace will triumph here," Maduro declared, framing the U.S. deployment as a threat aimed at provoking regime change.

The U.S. military operation in the Caribbean and Pacific has been described by Washington as a new phase in its counter-narcotics efforts, though the specific nature of the "decision" Trump referenced remains unknown.