📌 Overview
Fresh controversy has erupted after a senior aide to former US President Donald Trump suggested that recent US military attacks on boats near Latin America may have a deeper political goal — weakening or removing Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro.
The remarks have intensified debate over Washington’s true intentions in the region and raised serious legal and human rights concerns.
🗣️ What Did the Trump Aide Say?
In comments published by Vanity Fair, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles appeared to imply that the US military campaign against alleged drug-trafficking vessels is not only about narcotics enforcement.
According to the report, Wiles suggested that President Trump believed sustained attacks would eventually pressure Maduro’s government into collapse — a statement that contradicts official claims that the strikes are purely anti-drug operations.
⚖️ Regime Change or Anti-Drug Campaign?
The comments quickly drew criticism from US lawmakers and analysts.
Senator Chris Murphy described the strategy as an illegal attempt at regime change, arguing that attacks in international waters fall outside US legal authority.
Legal experts have also warned that targeting vessels without transparent evidence or immediate threats may violate both US law and international maritime and human rights law.
💥 Rising Military Pressure Near Venezuela
The US has significantly expanded its military footprint in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, including:
- Repeated strikes on suspected vessels
- Seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker
- Deployment of warships, drones, and aircraft
Venezuela has condemned these actions as acts of aggression and “international piracy,” while accusing Washington of creating a pretext for war.
🌍 International Law and Human Rights Concerns
UN experts have questioned the US justification for labeling drug-trafficking groups as “terrorists,” stating that such designations do not automatically permit lethal force.
They warned that:
- Attacks in international waters may be unlawful
- Killings without imminent threat could amount to extrajudicial executions
- Maritime law may be violated by unprovoked strikes
🔍 A History of Tensions
US–Venezuela relations have been strained for decades, particularly since the rise of Hugo Chávez and later Nicolás Maduro. Heavy sanctions and repeated threats of military action have shaped this adversarial relationship.
Despite portraying himself as a leader opposed to foreign wars, Trump has repeatedly refused to rule out military intervention in Venezuela.