US President Donald Trump on Monday (Nov 17) said that he will talk to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who voiced a similar statement, saying that he was ready to talk “face to face”. This comes as tensions in the Caribbean escalate with the presence of the US military, which has hardened its crackdown against drug cartels.“This country will continue to be at peace, and in the United States, anyone who wants to talk to Venezuela will talk face to face, without any problem,” Maduro said on his weekly television program hours after Trump suggested talks between the two leaders.Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, the US president said, “At a certain period of time, I'll be talking to him,” adding that the Venezuelan president “has not been good to the United States.”When asked whether he would rule out US troops inside Venezuela, Trump said, “No, I don’t rule out that, I don’t rule out anything.” He added, “We just have to take care of Venezuela. They dumped hundreds of thousands of people into our country from prisons.”A US Marine contingent is currently conducting its second military exercise in Trinidad and Tobago in less than a month. However, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said that it would not allow the US to use the archipelago’s territory for launching strikes against Venezuelans.“The US has NEVER requested use of our territory to launch any attacks against the people of Venezuela,” Persad-Bissessar told AFP. “Trinidad and Tobago will not participate in any act that could harm the Venezuelan people.”Venezuela has accused Washington of seeking regime change in Caracas. In recent months, the US has expanded its military presence in the region, positioning an aircraft carrier group, warships and several stealth jets. Despite criticism over mounting civilian toll and lack of transparency, the US has maintained that it is defending itself against “narco-terrorists”. Washington has also accused Maduro of leading a “terrorist” drug cartel – an accusation he denies.Since September, the US has conducted at least 21 strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific with at least 83 people killed on boats allegedly ferrying drugs in international waters.

This comes as tensions in the Caribbean escalate with the presence of the US military, which has hardened its crackdown against drug cartels.

US President Donald Trump on Monday (Nov 17) said that he will talk to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who voiced a similar statement, saying that he was ready to talk “face to face”. This comes as tensions in the Caribbean escalate with the presence of the US military, which has hardened its crackdown against drug cartels. “This country will continue to be at peace, and in the United States, anyone who wants to talk to Venezuela will talk face to face, without any problem,” Maduro said on his weekly television program hours after Trump suggested talks between the two leaders. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, the US president said, “At a certain period of time, I'll be talking to him,” adding that the Venezuelan president “has not been good to the United States.” When asked whether he would rule out US troops inside Venezuela, Trump said, “No, I don’t rule out that, I don’t rule out anything.” He added, “We just have to take care of Venezuela. They dumped hundreds of thousands of people into our country from prisons.” A US Marine contingent is currently conducting its second military exercise in Trinidad and Tobago in less than a month. However, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said that it would not allow the US to use the archipelago’s territory for launching strikes against Venezuelans. “The US has NEVER requested use of our territory to launch any attacks against the people of Venezuela,” Persad-Bissessar told AFP. “Trinidad and Tobago will not participate in any act that could harm the Venezuelan people.” Venezuela has accused Washington of seeking regime change in Caracas. In recent months, the US has expanded its military presence in the region, positioning an aircraft carrier group, warships and several stealth jets. Despite criticism over mounting civilian toll and lack of transparency, the US has maintained that it is defending itself against “narco-terrorists”. Washington has also accused Maduro of leading a “terrorist” drug cartel – an accusation he denies. Since September, the US has conducted at least 21 strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific with at least 83 people killed on boats allegedly ferrying drugs in international waters.

This comes as tensions in the Caribbean escalate with the presence of the US military, which has hardened its crackdown against drug cartels.

Maduro hints at ‘face to face’ talks, but Trump won’t ‘rule out’ US troops in Venezuela

The Pentagon on Sunday (Nov 16) announced that it had carried out the 21st known strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat in international waters. US Southern Command confirmed on Sunday that American forces (on Saturday) carried out a strike on a boat moving along a well-known smuggling route in the eastern Pacific.<h2>American strikes continue; over 80 alleged "narco terrorists" killed</h2>In a post online US Southern Command said that Intelligence showed the vessel was carrying narcotics. "Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics". It added that "Three male narcoterrorists aboard the vessel were killed," and that "The vessel was trafficking narcotics in the Eastern Pacific and was struck in international waters."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">On Nov. 15, at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization. Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling,… <a href="https://t.co/iM1PhIsroj">pic.twitter.com/iM1PhIsroj</a>&mdash; U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/1990147866397221102?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This brings the total number of deaths linked to these "narco-terrorism" operations to 83. Officials say the mission is designed to choke off the drug trade before it reaches US shores, and reports suggest they have used everything from fighter jets to drones to do it. Citing a Defense Department official, CNN reports that the US carried out the twentieth strike just last week.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-open-to-talks-with-maduro-even-as-washington-slaps-terror-tag-on-his-alleged-cartel-1763341987551">Trump says open to talks with Maduro even as Washington slaps terror tag on his alleged cartel</a>The effort has drawn heavy fire. Colombia’s president said last week he would halt intelligence cooperation with Washington until the attacks stop. Legal experts in the US have also warned that the campaign could violate both American and international law. The Justice Department, for its part, has told Congress it does not need approval to continue the strikes.<h2>US moves to designate alleged Maduro-led cartel a terrorist group</h2>Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday announced that Washington plans to formally classify the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organisation. The US argues the group, which it says is tied directly to Maduro and other senior officials, works with known outfits like Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel and fuels violence and drug trafficking across the region.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-strike-kills-3-in-caribbean-critics-say-no-justification-under-international-law-1762077521529">US strike kills 3 in Caribbean, critics say ‘no justification under international law’</a>"Cartel de los Soles by and with other designated FTOs, including Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel are responsible for terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe," he said in a statement. Caracas calls the accusations absurd and claims the growing US military presence in the Caribbean is cover for regime change.Washington maintains that Maduro is an illegitimate leader and a drug trafficker, a charge he rejects. Doubling down, Rubio said, "Neither Maduro nor his cronies represent Venezuela's legitimate government." He insisted that the US will continue to use every tool available to cut off the funding and reach of groups it considers narco terrorists.

The US carried out its 21st strike on a suspected drug boat in the eastern Pacific, killing three men and pushing the total death toll in these operations to 83. 

The Pentagon on Sunday (Nov 16) announced that it had carried out the 21st known strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat in international waters. US Southern Command confirmed on Sunday that American forces (on Saturday) carried out a strike on a boat moving along a well-known smuggling route in the eastern Pacific. American strikes continue; over 80 alleged "narco terrorists" killed In a post online US Southern Command said that Intelligence showed the vessel was carrying narcotics. "Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics". It added that "Three male narcoterrorists aboard the vessel were killed," and that "The vessel was trafficking narcotics in the Eastern Pacific and was struck in international waters."

The US carried out its 21st strike on a suspected drug boat in the eastern Pacific, killing three men and pushing the total death toll in these operations to 83.&nbsp;

Pentagon confirms 21st strike on alleged drug boat, kills three in international waters. Watch video

us-strike-carribean

Us Strike Carribean, News on Us Strike Carribean, stories on Us Strike Carribean, articles on Us Strike Carribean, Us Strike Carribean stories at Wion, Us Strike Carribean news, Us Strike Carribean latest news

us strike-carribean

Maduro hints at ‘face to face’ talks, but Trump won’t ‘rule out’ US troops in Venezuela

Pentagon confirms strike on alleged drug boat, kills 3 in international waters