president of the United States, Donald TrumpHe stated on Sunday (1st) that people should not give too much importance to a post published the previous day on social media, in which he stated that Venezuelan airspace should be considered closed.
The post, which targeted airlines and “drug traffickers”, heightened tension in the region over a possible US attack on Venezuelan territory.
“Don’t draw conclusions from thatTrump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday.We consider Venezuela to be a very unfriendly country“.
The United States launched an increasingly comprehensive campaign in the Caribbean, beginning with attacks on ships in international waters and continuing with the deployment of US Navy warships, including an aircraft carrier, to the region.
Trump confirmed that he recently spoke by phone with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, but he declined to describe the nature of the matter. “I wouldn’t say it was good or bad,” he added.
He also downplayed Republican lawmakers’ concerns about a possible unlawful attack on a damaged ship in the Caribbean.
The Department of Defense is facing increasing questions after a Washington Post report indicated that the Pentagon chief, Pete HegsethHe reportedly ordered an attack on the boats and specifically demanded that such attacks result in the death of all on board. This led to a second attack on the damaged boat’s hull on September 2, killing two people who were injured in the first attack, the newspaper reported.
“I will look into it, but Pete said he did not order the killing of these two men,” Trump said. When asked if a second attack would be legal, he replied: “No, I don’t want that, not a second attack. The first attack was very deadly.”
Analysts say the naval strikes were actually carried out under questionable or weak legal authority, and that such strikes have raised concerns among US allies. The government says the boats are legitimate targets because they are believed to transport drugs.
Trump said he was not worried about the legal challenges “because you can see the boats. You can see the drugs on the boats, and each boat is responsible for the deaths of 25,000 Americans. So I think they’re doing an incredible job.”
The report of a subsequent attack that left wounded people sparked a rare violent response from Republican lawmakers. Ohio Congressman, Mike TurnerHe said in a statement to CBS that such an attack, if confirmed, would amount to an “unlawful act.” Without baconHe, from Nebraska, told ABC that would be a “clear violation of the law of war.”
Senator Roger WickerThe Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said that the committee will investigate the attacks after the report is published.
the US Federal Aviation Administration The FAA warned airlines at the end of last month to “exercise caution” in Venezuela, prompting some to start canceling flights.
It was recently appointed by the Trump administration Cartel de los Soles (Cartel of the Sun)Venezuela, as a foreign terrorist organization, which the United States claims is a legal basis for certain operations, but Venezuela says is a pretext for attacks.