Trump calls off diplomatic outreach to Venezuela, say US official
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US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering strikes inside Venezuela.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump has called off efforts to reach a diplomatic agreement with Venezuela and told his special envoy Richard Grenell to stop all outreach, a senior US official said on Oct 6.
The news, which was first reported by The New York Times, follows a series of military strikes on vessels carrying drugs near Venezuela.
Mr Trump told Congress that the US was engaged in “a non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels.
Although he is reportedly considering strikes inside the South American country, the US official told Reuters that the President has not yet determined whether to advance his military campaign to a second phase.
The US leader delivered the message to Mr Grenell during a meeting in the Oval Office on Oct 2 with senior military leaders, the senior official said.
On Oct 5, Mr Trump told service members that US strikes on vessels off the coast of Venezuela had halted the flow of drugs by sea and the US would now “have to start looking about the land”. The White House released no further details.
Tensions between Washington and Caracas have intensified since Mr Trump returned to the White House in January, with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro denying US allegations that drugs were being produced in the country, and claiming that the US hopes to drive him from power.
Mr Trump has played down the possibility of a regime change in the South American country.
In August, Washington doubled its reward for information leading to Mr Maduro’s arrest to US$50 million (S$64.5 million), accusing him of links to drug trafficking and criminal groups that he denies. REUTERS
