American tourists visiting luxury resorts could face unexpected danger from ruthless “wild card” cartels if President Donald Trump decides to launch military actions against Venezuela.
The situation in the Caribbean is escalating following the US administration’s announcement of targeting narco-gangsters after operations against suspected drug vessels near Venezuela’s coast resulted in multiple deaths and bodies washing ashore on various islands.
In a move to safeguard the United States, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth revealed plans to intensify defense efforts through Operation Southern Spear. This mission aims to protect US territory, eliminate narco-terrorists from the region, and secure the nation from the lethal drug trade, as highlighted in a post on Twitter.
President Trump’s concerns about drug cartels smuggling dangerous opioids, such as fentanyl, into the country have been longstanding, with a significant number of American deaths attributed to these substances in recent years. Trump’s focus has shifted towards ousting Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who is accused of permitting cartel operations without repercussions.
Mark Cancian, a retired US Marines Colonel and senior advisor at a think tank in Washington DC, suggested that Trump might order strikes on cartel targets and Maduro regime facilities if Venezuela is attacked.
The US Navy’s presence in the Caribbean, including the recent deployment of the USS Gerald R Ford, has significantly bolstered American military capabilities in the area. Cancian mentioned potential targets, such as cartel production sites, remote airfields, and warehouses, that could be hit in future operations.
While the Maduro regime may crumble under sustained attacks, Cancian warned that cartels, with their decentralized structure and lack of a clear leader, pose a more unpredictable threat. Despite their initial silence after US strikes, Cancian acknowledged the potential for a “wild card” scenario involving attacks on American tourists by the cartels.
Cancian emphasized that any assault on American civilians or military personnel by the cartels would demand a response from President Trump, potentially leading to ground operations to neutralize the threat.
In the event of such an attack, Cancian speculated that Trump would likely escalate military actions, including air and ground campaigns, considering it a grave provocation that would garner public support for decisive measures against the cartels.
While actions against cartels targeting innocent Americans may receive widespread backing, the public’s stance on potential strikes against Venezuela remains uncertain, given the prevalent desire among many Americans to reduce US involvement in foreign conflicts.
