US White House repeatedly convenes security officials…Will it strike Venezuela?

Korea Economic Daily

Summary

The U.S. Trump administration reportedly discussed whether to conduct a military operation against Venezuela.
It reported that recently military tensions have risen and various scenarios are being considered, including the possible deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier and special forces.
It reported that pressure measures targeting Venezuela and responses to drug cartels are continuing, and that debates over legal legitimacy have also been raised.

Key figures of the Donald Trump administration reportedly held a closed-door meeting at the White House on the 14th (local time) to review whether to carry out a military operation against Venezuela.

According to the U.S. daily The Washington Post (WP), the meeting was attended by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, among others.

Sources said that in the second meeting held following the previous day, high-level discussions continued over whether to strike Venezuela and, if an actual strike were to occur, which method to choose.

They added, "It is not yet clear whether President Trump has chosen to escalate military tensions in that way."

The Trump administration has been increasing U.S. military forces in the Caribbean region and pressuring Venezuela under the pretext of a 'war on drugs.'

Measures have included sinking a vessel suspected of carrying drugs, shows of force with long-range strategic bombers B-52 and B-1, and approval by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for internal operations in Venezuela.

Recently, the U.S. Navy's USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's most powerful aircraft carrier, was dispatched to the region, further heightening military tensions.

Some have even raised the possibility of strikes on Venezuelan territory. One source said that fighter pilots aboard the Gerald R. Ford have analyzed Venezuela's air defense network.

Two other sources said the United States is considering whether to deploy the special forces Delta Force, which carry out missions such as arrests and assassinations, in Venezuela-related operations.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice is reported to have classified fentanyl as a potential chemical weapon threat. It was also reported that the United States has asserted that it is exercising 'collective self-defense' with allied countries such as Colombia and Mexico against drug cartels that finance violent acts.

However, some argue that such reasoning is an overreaching legal interpretation. To exercise collective self-defense, an external armed attack must be presumed, and critics say that in the recent situation there are insufficient elements to justify this.

O Se-sung Hankyung.com reporter sesung@hankyung.com