Venezuelan jets will be shot down if they endanger US ships; Trump warns
President Donald Trump has warned that, if Venezuelan jets fly over US naval ships and "put us in a dangerous position, they'll be shot down".
President Donald Trump has warned that, if Venezuelan jets fly over US naval ships and “put us in a dangerous position, they’ll be shot down”.
His warning comes after Venezuela flew military aircraft near a US vessel off South America for the second time in two days, US officials told the BBC’s US partner CBS News.
The reports follow a US strike against what Trump officials said was a “drug-carrying vessel from Venezuela” operated by a gang, killing 11 people.
President Nicolás Maduro has said US allegations about Venezuela are not true and that differences between the countries do not justify a “military conflict”.
“Venezuela has always been willing to talk, to engage in dialogue, but we demand respect,” he added.
When asked by reporters in the Oval Office on Friday what would happen if Venezuelan jets flew over US vessels again, Trump said Venezuela would be in “trouble”.
Trump told his general, standing beside him, that he could do anything he wanted if the situation escalated.
Since his return to office in January, Trump has steadily intensified his anti-drug-trafficking efforts in Latin America.
Key suspect in the murder of Machakos University student prospect arrested
Body of university student recovered in Nyamira shallow grave
Drama as Embassava driver beats, bites two police officers
Court upholds SRC move to scrap MCAs’ allowances
Senator Khalwale goes after Ruto over Sakaja’s impeachment
Maduro has accused the US of seeking “regime change through military threat”.
When asked about the comments, Trump said “we’re not talking about that”, but mentioned what he called a “very strange election” in Venezuela. Maduro was sworn in for his third term in January after a contested election.
Trump went on to say that “drugs are pouring” into the US from Venezuela and that members of Tren de Aragua – a gang proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the US – were living in the US.
The US military has moved to bolster its forces in the southern Caribbean, including through the deployment of additional naval vessels and thousands of US Marines and sailors to stem the flow of drugs.
The White House said on Friday that the US is sending 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico.
When asked about the build-up of military assets in the Caribbean, Trump said: “I think it’s just strong. We’re strong on drugs. We don’t want drugs killing our people.”
Trump is a long-time critic of Maduro. The US president doubled a reward for information leading to the arrest of the Venezuelan leader to $50m (£37.2m) in August, accusing him of being “one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world”.
During Trump’s first term, the US government charged Maduro and other high-ranking Venezuelan officials with a range of offences, including narco-terrorism, corruption and drug trafficking.
Maduro has previously rejected the US claims.
Police service to recruit 10,000 constables
DCI arrest 2 fake Safaricom agents trying to defraud businessman
Universities Fund issues directive to students who missed scholarships
DPP orders arrest of Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo
Private hospitals issue 14-day notice to SHA over unpaid claims
Follow us
