Trump weighs Venezuela strike options as Pentagon readies "Southern Spear"
If your phone buzzed with Venezuela alerts this week, you're not alone. There's a lot of noise, and a real question underneath it: is the U.S. actually inching toward military action?
Here's where things stand. President Donald Trump was briefed this week on options for operations inside Venezuela, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions. He hasn't decided. And he's still wary of ordering something that could fail or put U.S. troops at risk.
What changed this week
Wednesday's session wasn't a green light. It was an update. One source said the menu of options looked a lot like ideas that have been circulating inside the Pentagon for weeks.
The choices span the spectrum: airstrikes on military or government facilities, hits on drug routes and cocaine production sites inside Venezuela, and, at the far end, a direct attempt to take out Nicolás Maduro. Or the White House could do nothing at all.
"Southern Spear" steps into the spotlight
Inside the building, planners at U.S. Southern Command have been working target options under an umbrella called Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR. The brief was delivered by senior national security officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine.
Hegseth went public on X Thursday night, writing that the mission "defends our Homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secures our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people." Big language. Not many details.
Worth noting: Southern Command had previously outlined an operation with the same name back in January, focused on counter-narcotics tech - think long-dwell robotic boats, fast interceptor craft, and VTOL drones. You can read the Navy's January description here: Operation Southern Spear overview.
Ships, signals, and what they mean
The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford - the Navy calls it its most capable and lethal platform - showed up in the Caribbean this week. That's not subtle. Carrier presence is a message, and everyone in the region hears it.
If you want a quick primer on the ship itself, the Navy's fact file is a good reference: USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78).
The legal line
There's a practical hurdle here. Administration officials told lawmakers last week the U.S. doesn't currently have a legal basis to strike land targets in Venezuela. Could they build one? Maybe. But that takes time, and the clock is loud right now.
Trump also told CBS' 60 Minutes recently that he wasn't considering strikes inside Venezuela, even though he'd sounded more open earlier. Mixed signals happen in moments like this. Sometimes by design.
What we're watching next
- Does the White House articulate a clear legal rationale? That's a tell for real movement.
- Are additional assets flowing to the region beyond the Ford? Watch logistics ships and ISR aircraft.
- Does "Southern Spear" stay narrowly focused on counter-narcotics, or does the mission creep in public statements?
- Do allied governments in the hemisphere start publicly lining up - or pushing back?
Look, this could end with no strike at all. That's on the table. The Pentagon didn't comment, the White House stayed quiet, and CBS News was first to flag the briefing - none of which screams "go" yet.
Here's what this could mean: if the goal is pressure, the carrier and the messaging may be the point. If the goal is action, you'll see the legal case, the allies, and the logistics snap into place. Until then, take a breath. And keep your alerts on.
Update: This story reflects the latest briefings and public statements as of this week.
