U.S. Weighs Options for maduro’s Exit as Venezuela Tensions Escalate
WASHINGTON – The White House is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to leave power, ranging from fostering internal fractures to direct negotiation, backed by a significant military deployment to the region. Officials are confident the show of force – including 15,000 soldiers, an operational aircraft carrier, and F-35 fighters stationed in Puerto Rico – could trigger a shift in Venezuela without requiring a military intervention on Venezuelan soil. This comes as the U.S. has increased pressure on suspected drug trafficking operations in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, conducting 21 attacks as September 2nd, resulting in at least 80 deaths, with the frequency escalating from weekly to almost daily in late October alongside the naval deployment.
sources indicate the Trump management is currently evaluating four primary paths forward, with a focus on avoiding prolonged conflict.
1. Negotiated Exit: The most readily considered option involves facilitating Maduro’s exile to a willing host country. Potential destinations discussed include Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Cuba. According to sources within the National Security Council, intermediaries representing the Maduro regime have offered to negotiate a leadership change and potential concessions within the Venezuelan Army. However, both President Trump and his diplomatic team have so far rejected proposals involving current regime figures like Jorge and Delcy Rodríguez.
2. Leverage Military Pressure: The current military build-up is intended to create internal pressure within Venezuela. The White House believes the exhibition of force can “trigger fractures, discreet negotiations or even an agreed exit” without direct intervention. The increased interdiction of suspected drug boats – 21 attacks since September 2nd - is also seen as a component of this pressure campaign.
3. Democratic Transition (Preferred by Opponents): Democrats in Congress have advocated for a negotiated solution focused on dismantling Venezuela’s repressive systems, stabilizing the economy with assistance from the IMF and World Bank, restructuring the oil industry, and establishing a transitional goverment. While considered the longest and most complex path, this option is seen as minimizing military costs for the United States. Resolutions attempting to prohibit the use of force have been proposed by Democrats, reflecting this preference.
4.Unilateral Action, Excluding Opposition Input: President Trump, unlike during his first term, has unified his cabinet around the current pressure campaign and has deliberately chosen not to involve Democrats in the process. A source familiar with internal deliberations stated this decision is aimed at securing a political win for Republicans by ending the Maduro dictatorship. This approach stems from concerns that previous negotiations with Maduro, initiated by the biden administration, resulted in concessions – such as the release of a Maduro associate and the potential resumption of oil licenses – without achieving a genuine shift in power or addressing the country’s drug trafficking issues.
The situation remains fluid, and the White House is closely monitoring developments as it weighs its options for resolving the crisis in Venezuela.
