Trump: Venezuela Will Not Turn into Iraq or Afghanistan

SadaNews - The U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed in statements to the New York Post that he is not concerned that the situation in Venezuela will lead to scenarios similar to what happened in Iraq and Afghanistan, emphasizing that his country will not be dragged into a "long-term quagmire".

Trump clarified that the Venezuelan opposition, represented by Maria Machado, does not have sufficient support within the country, considering that they will not be able to win the elections unless they receive external support. He added that handling the Venezuelan issue should be done in a way that allows the United States to benefit from the economic resources there.

The newspaper reported American officials stating that U.S. forces are not currently on the ground in Venezuela, but approximately 12 warships and dozens of fighter jets and drones are still stationed in the Caribbean region. They confirmed that these forces are in a state of maximum readiness in anticipation of the possibility that Trump may order a second strike against Venezuela.

Officials also indicated that the White House is considering expanding the role of the President's domestic security advisor to oversee operations related to Venezuela, while it is unlikely that Senator Marco Rubio will be able to manage daily policy there due to his extensive commitments.