American tourists at luxury resorts could face danger from ruthless “wild card” cartels if President Donald Trump proceeds with military actions against Venezuela.
The situation in the Caribbean is becoming increasingly tense after the Trump administration announced plans to target narco-gangsters following recent deadly encounters with suspected drug vessels near Venezuela’s coast. The aftermath of these strikes has resulted in numerous casualties, with bodies washing up on various islands’ shores.
As part of Operation Southern Spear, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth revealed that the U.S. would intensify efforts to protect its interests. The mission, led by Joint Task Force Southern Spear and @SOUTHCOM, aims to safeguard the U.S. homeland, combat narco-terrorists in the region, and secure the country from the devastating impact of drug trafficking. Hegseth emphasized the importance of defending the Western Hemisphere as a vital American domain.
President Trump has been vocal about his concerns regarding drug cartels smuggling dangerous opioids, such as fentanyl, into the U.S., causing significant harm to American citizens. His administration has also targeted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, accusing him of allowing cartels to operate freely within the country.
Mark Cancian, a retired U.S. Marines Colonel and senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, suggested that in the event of an attack on Venezuela, Trump might order strikes against both the cartels and the Maduro regime’s headquarters.
The presence of the U.S. Navy, including the recent deployment of the USS Gerald R Ford, has significantly bolstered American military capabilities in the Caribbean region. Cancian highlighted potential targets for future strikes, including cartel production sites, remote airfields, port facilities, and other key infrastructure used by criminal organizations.
While the Maduro regime may be vulnerable to sustained military pressure, Cancian cautioned that the decentralized nature of cartels makes them unpredictable. Although the cartels have not retaliated against U.S. actions so far, there remains a possibility of a “wild card” scenario where American tourists could be targeted during their vacations.
Cancian raised concerns about potential cartel attacks on American civilians or military personnel, suggesting that such actions would provoke a forceful response from President Trump, possibly leading to a ground campaign against the cartels to neutralize any further threats.
In the event of cartel violence against U.S. citizens, Cancian anticipated that Trump would escalate military actions through air and ground campaigns, viewing such attacks as a direct challenge that would galvanize public support for decisive measures against the criminal organizations.
While targeting cartels that harm innocent Americans would likely garner widespread approval, the public’s stance on military intervention in Venezuela remains uncertain. Many Americans supported Trump’s pledge to reduce U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts, a sentiment that could impact public opinion on potential military actions in the region.