America’s limited options on Venezuela

According to RCO News Agency, the “Donald Trump” administration has limited options in the Caribbean region despite repeated military threats to military action against Venezuela; Experts believe that the US military power in the region is not enough for a large-scale ground attack.

In an interview with Politico, Trump announced on Monday that the era of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is “coming to an end” and did not rule out the possibility of sending ground troops to this South American country. He also warned that Mexico and Colombia may also face military operations against drug traffickers.

Politico magazine wrote in a report about this: “No significant ground forces are stationed in this region, and the transfer of thousands of troops to friendly countries or US territories near Venezuela will require a huge and obvious logistical effort.” This makes airstrikes the only practical and immediate option for Trump, despite Trump’s threats of more drastic measures.

Lawmakers, Pentagon officials and White House advisers interviewed by Politico reveal the challenges of a ground attack and the collective belief that Trump’s rhetoric, fueled by the bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities, will be enough to convince Maduro to step down.

A person close to the White House and familiar with the Trump administration’s views said the threats were “a tactic to pressure Maduro to step down.”

Other people familiar with the matter denied any plans for conflict in Mexico or Colombia. “There’s a 99.9 percent chance it won’t happen,” said a second person close to the White House, speaking on condition of anonymity. “But keeping that 0.01 percent chance on the table will get people involved.”

Lack of sufficient US ground forces in the Caribbean for an effective ground attack on Venezuela

The American media went on to point out that “Trump has tried hard to present an image of himself as a peacemaker, while his threats to attack three separate countries in the Western Hemisphere conflict with his quest for peace agreements,” and wrote: “Steve Bannon,” a former senior White House planner who remains an influential voice in the “America First” (MAGA) movement, says these naval movements “will put additional pressure on Maduro to surrender.” And do what Trump wants him to do, that is, go to Türkiye and leave the country. Because I think the negotiations have almost reached this point.”

This article was further discussed: According to a recent analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, about 12 American warships in the region, which were recently strengthened by the arrival of the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier, the largest aircraft carrier in the world, are capable of launching nearly 200 Tomahawk cruise missiles at land targets in the region. But past experience shows that for a large-scale attack, at least 50,000 troops, including 20,000 soldiers, are needed.

“The United States does not have the ground forces necessary for an invasion,” said Mark Kancian, a retired Marine Corps colonel and one of the authors of the Politico report. Venezuela’s ground forces are about 90,000 people, including the army, marines and national guard. “The United States only has 2,200 Marines (nearby) and no reinforcements are underway.”

Trump’s political challenge to carry out the military threat against Venezuela

The American media wrote: Politics is another limitation for Trump, because even his base of supporters in Maga disagrees about the general idea of ​​America playing the role of global policeman. The Trump administration has condemned the long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as a holdover from a failed post-Cold War system.

Even some Republican lawmakers, who have generally supported the Trump administration’s attacks on foreign vessels in the Caribbean, expressed concern about the idea of ​​a land attack. Republican Senator and Trump ally Lindsey Graham, who calls Maduro a “terrorist narco-dictator,” said that he does not think ground troops are needed for now.

Several other Trump supporters also opposed the idea of ​​involving US military service members. A ground attack could also lead to rising costs and uncertain success, which could quickly turn into a guerrilla war in Venezuela’s interior jungles if forces loyal to Maduro decide to fight, a former Trump administration official said.

A U.S. defense official also said that any U.S. ground forces in Venezuela would likely require months of preparation and would be visible in any neighboring country where they are forced to converge.
It seems that the general public does not support such actions. A recent CBS News poll showed that 70 percent of the American public opposes Trump’s military action against Venezuela.
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