Trump Denies Plans for Strikes on Venezuela as U.S. Military Buildup Raises Tensions in Caribbean

President Donald Trump said Friday that he is not considering military strikes on Venezuela, even as a major U.S. buildup in the Caribbean stirs fears in Caracas of an imminent attempt at regime change. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump dismissed speculation that Washington was preparing for direct military action against the government of President Nicolás Maduro, calling such reports inaccurate.

“No,” Trump said flatly when asked whether he was weighing airstrikes on Venezuela.

His remarks came amid a visible escalation of U.S. military presence in the region. The United States has deployed eight Navy vessels to the Caribbean, sent F-35 stealth fighters to Puerto Rico, and dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group toward Venezuelan waters. Washington insists the mission’s purpose is to curb narcotics trafficking, not to provoke confrontation.

U.S. Denies “Regime Change” Intentions

Echoing Trump’s comments, Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to downplay speculation sparked by a Miami Herald report suggesting that U.S. forces were “poised to strike” Venezuela.

“Your ‘sources’ claiming to have ‘knowledge of the situation’ tricked you into writing a fake story,” Rubio wrote on X (formerly Twitter), dismissing the claims as misinformation.

The denials, however, have done little to calm rising tensions in the region. Venezuela’s government has accused the United States of “fabricating a war” to justify an intervention, claiming that the military deployments and recent air patrols are part of a broader strategy to destabilize Caracas.

Expanding Anti-Narcotics Campaign

The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) launched a campaign in early September targeting alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. According to defense officials, the operations have killed at least 62 individuals and destroyed 14 boats and a semi-submersible suspected of transporting narcotics.

Washington portrays these small vessels as a national security threat, arguing that drug flows from South America fund transnational criminal networks and, at times, militant groups. However, human rights organizations and legal experts have criticized the strikes as extrajudicial killings, questioning the legality of attacking unflagged or lightly armed civilian boats without due process.

Show of Force and Regional Friction

Beyond the maritime campaign, the U.S. Air Force has conducted several bomber sorties near Venezuelan airspace in recent weeks. B-52 Stratofortress and B-1B Lancer bombers have flown missions off the country’s northern coast, with the latest flyover occurring Monday. The Pentagon described these as “deterrence patrols” meant to reassure regional allies and signal American readiness.

For Venezuela, however, these actions underscore what it calls Washington’s aggressive posture. The Maduro government, already facing sanctions and diplomatic isolation, claims the buildup mirrors U.S. interventionist patterns seen in Iraq and Libya. Caracas has placed its air defenses on heightened alert, with the Buk-M2E and S-125 missile systems reportedly repositioned around key strategic areas.

Growing Concern Among Neighbors

The increased U.S. naval activity and overflights have also unsettled neighboring countries. Colombia and Trinidad and Tobago, while maintaining close ties with Washington, have called for restraint and dialogue over confrontation. Regional analysts warn that even a minor miscalculation—such as an intercepted aircraft or mistaken naval encounter—could escalate into a serious conflict.

A Familiar Cycle of Suspicion

While the Trump administration insists its focus is anti-narcotics enforcement, the timing and scale of the deployment suggest broader geopolitical undertones. Venezuela’s deteriorating economy, internal instability, and deepening military cooperation with Russia and Iran have long worried U.S. policymakers. Yet, direct confrontation remains a risk few in Washington appear willing to embrace.

For now, Trump’s denial offers temporary reassurance—but with warships, stealth fighters, and bombers circling nearby, the Caribbean remains on edge, and Venezuela continues to brace for what it sees as the shadow of a potential American intervention.