Brief mystery during the afternoon. The Miami Herald and the Wall Street Journal speak of “imminent strikes” against military targets in Venezuela, Trump denies: “It’s not true.” And oil prices rise
Imminent attack. Actually no. On the afternoon of Friday 31 October a brief mystery took place, when two important American newspapers reported the news that Washington has reportedly approved the list of narco-related military targets to be struck in Venezuela, with military operations deemed “imminent”. A few hours later, however, the official denial arrived from the American President Donald Trump.
The mystery about the imminent attack
The fuse that triggered the diplomatic (and financial) panic was lit almost simultaneously by two of the most influential newspapers in the United States: the Miami Herald and the Wall Street Journal.
The indiscretions, published in the early afternoon of Friday, have in fact painted a scenario of imminent war. According to the sources cited by the two newspapers, the Trump administration has reportedly given the green light to a list of specific targets in Venezuelawith the intention of attacking not only the regime’s military infrastructure Nicolás Madurobut above all those linked to drug trafficking.
The Miami Herald, in particular, cited informed sources speaking of air raids possible “within hours or days”. As is known, the US military has long been have intensified their presence and their surveillance operations in international waters and in the airspace overlooking Venezuela, also targeting drug traffickers’ boats.
This deployment, officially justified as part of a larger anti-drug operation in the Caribbean Sea, had already been interpreted by Caracas as a clear threat of regime-change.
The main target of this potential military action is not the regime itself, but the alleged link between the top echelons of Venezuelan power and organized crime. The United States openly accuses the president Nicolás Maduro and his inner circle to be at the head of the so-called Cartel of the Sunsa transnational criminal organization dedicated to cocaine trafficking.
The accusation was also formalized with the issuing of arrest warrants and offering millions in rewards for their capture. The targets identified, according to the WSJ, included military facilities and air bases used to facilitate the transportation of narcotics, thus turning a military attack into a “surgical operation” against the narco-state.
Trump’s denial
The immediate effect of the rumors was an earthquake on the oil markets. Venezuela, despite being in deep crisis, remains a key member of OPEC+ and holds the world’s largest oil reserves.
Within minutes, the price of oil saw a significant surge, with crude oil futures hitting highs for the day. However, the “mystery” was resolved as quickly as it had exploded. In the late afternoon the President Donald Trump however, he denied the reports. When asked if he was considering such action, the president replied: “No.”
There however, the situation remains highly volatilethe American administration continues to retain the Venezuelan regime a criminal organization that threatens regional security. The presence of warships and reconnaissance aircraft off the Venezuelan coast, combined with the strike against drug traffickers’ boats and rewards for capturing leaders, keeps the pressure at maximum level.
