The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is set to visit the Caribbean on Monday as the Trump administration considers whether to expand its military campaign against the Venezuelan regime.
Citing two people familiar with the matter, The New York Times detailed that the stated reason for the trip of Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is thanking troops ahead of Thanksgiving.
However, the outlet added, Caine was key in developing Operation Southern Spear, the largest buildup of forces in the region since the Cuban Missile Crisis, and which has seen more than 20 strikes against alleged drug vessels that have so far killed over 80 people.
The Trump administration officially designated the Cartel de los Soles, which it accuses Venezuela's authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro and other top officials of leading, potentially paving the way for military strikes in the country.
The designation was published in the Federal Register on Monday and officializes the announcement made by the State Department the week prior.
On Friday, the U.S. also issued a NOTAM advisory over a "potentially hazardous situation" near Venezuela's main airport, Maiquetia, due to the "worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around" the country.
"Threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight, the arrival, and departure phases of flight, and/or airports and aircraft on the ground," the advisory adds. Several airlines have cancelled flights to and from Venezuela during the weekend as a result.
Trump has also reportedly signed off on CIA plans for covert measures inside the country, which could pave the way for further action. But at the same time he authorized a new round of back-channel negotiations. He said late last week that he will speak with Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro in the "not too distant future" and will say "something very specific" to him.
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