Overview
- President Trump said he would not rule out deploying U.S. ground forces in Venezuela and indicated he is willing to speak directly with Nicolás Maduro.
- He said he would be “OK” authorizing U.S. strikes in Mexico to target drug traffickers and voiced willingness to hit cocaine facilities in Colombia, without committing to advance notice to those governments.
- The Pentagon confirmed the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group has moved into the Caribbean, adding to a sizable U.S. naval and air presence positioned for Operation Southern Spear.
- U.S. forces have carried out more than 20 lethal strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats since September, with publicly reported tallies exceeding 80 deaths, including a strike announced over the weekend.
- The State Department plans to designate the Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization effective Nov. 24, as human rights groups question the legal basis and evidence for the boat strikes and lawmakers press for oversight.