Key Takeaways
- The White House is set to hold a meeting on Monday evening to discuss next steps on Venezuela, with key members of Trump’s Cabinet and national security team in attendance.
- The US has increased pressure on Venezuela with strikes on drug vessels and a military asset buildup in the Caribbean.
- The meeting comes as lawmakers question the legality of US strikes on alleged drug boats in the region, which have killed over 80 people.
- The administration has designated Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and allies as members of a foreign terrorist organization, potentially expanding US military options.
- Lawmakers have expressed concerns over the strikes, with some suggesting they could be considered "war crimes."
Introduction to the Meeting
President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a meeting at the White House on Monday evening to discuss next steps on Venezuela, according to sources familiar with the matter. This meeting is a significant development in the ongoing situation in Venezuela, as the US administration continues to intensify its pressure campaign on the country. The meeting will take place in the Oval Office at 5 p.m. ET and will be attended by key members of Trump’s Cabinet and national security team.
Attendees and Agenda
The attendees of the meeting will include Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. The agenda of the meeting is not publicly known, but it is expected to focus on the ongoing situation in Venezuela and the US response to it. The meeting comes as the US has increased its military presence in the Caribbean, with over a dozen warships and 15,000 troops deployed in the region as part of "Operation Southern Spear."
US Pressure on Venezuela
The US has been increasing pressure on Venezuela in recent weeks, with strikes on drug vessels and a military asset buildup in the Caribbean. The president has also announced that the US will be stopping Venezuelan drug trafficking by land, in addition to sea, "very soon." Over the weekend, the president issued a broad directive on social media, warning airlines, pilots, and criminal networks to avoid Venezuelan airspace. However, he told reporters not to read into the announcement, suggesting that it may not be a significant development.
Communication with Venezuelan President
The president has also confirmed that he had spoken with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro over the phone, although he did not disclose what was discussed. The administration has formally designated Maduro and allies of his government as members of a foreign terrorist organization, a move that officials argue will give the US expanded military options for striking inside Venezuela. This designation has significant implications for the US-Venezuela relationship and may lead to further escalation of the situation.
Legality of US Strikes
The Oval Office meeting comes as lawmakers continue to question the legality of the US strikes on alleged drug boats in the region, which have killed over 80 people. The legality of the strikes has been questioned as the US is not officially in a war with Venezuela. CNN reported last week that the US carried out a follow-up strike on a suspected drug vessel after an initial attack did not kill everyone on board. This has raised concerns among lawmakers, with some suggesting that the strikes could be considered "war crimes."
Lawmaker Concerns
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have voiced serious concerns over the strike, with some suggesting that it could be a "war crime." Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent, told CNN that "the law is clear" and that if the facts are as alleged, the strike could be considered a "stone-cold war crime" and "murder." King, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that Congress would seek to interview "people up and down the chain of command" to determine what orders were given and how they were executed.
Investigation and Next Steps
The Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to investigate the strikes and the circumstances surrounding them. King said that the committee would be talking to people "all the way up, up to the top of the chain of command and down to the people that actually triggered that attack." This investigation is likely to be a significant development in the ongoing situation in Venezuela and may lead to further scrutiny of the US administration’s actions. The outcome of the investigation and the White House meeting will be closely watched, as they may have significant implications for the US-Venezuela relationship and the region as a whole.