Trump Meets with War Secretary and Joint Chiefs Chairman Regarding Venezuela

US President Donald Trump is holding a meeting in the Oval Office on Monday evening to discuss the next steps regarding Venezuela, as the US administration intensifies its pressure on Caracas.

1. Meeting Participants

The high-level participation underscores the seriousness of the issue:

• War Secretary: Beto O'Rourke (likely a transcription or translation error in the source; should refer to a key defense official like the Secretary of Defense or a former official like Pete Hegseth, based on the Arabic name).

• Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: General Dan Kain.

• Senior Officials: Secretary of State Marco Rubio (likely referring to the Secretary of State or a top foreign policy advisor), White House Office Director Susie Wiles, and her deputy Stephen Miller.

2. Context of Escalation

The meeting, scheduled for 5:00 PM EST, follows a series of escalating measures by Washington:

• Military Presence: Reinforcing the US military presence in the Caribbean region.

• Naval Strikes: Carrying out strikes against drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean since September, under the pretext of combating drug trafficking.

• Airspace Warning: Trump issued a general directive via social media, warning airlines, pilots, and criminal networks against flying in Venezuelan airspace.

3. Legal Controversy and Parliamentary Inquiry

The US military strikes in the Caribbean have faced criticism and questions regarding their legality, prompting international and parliamentary action:

• UN Criticism: The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, urged Washington to investigate the legality of the strikes, stating there is "strong evidence" they constitute "extrajudicial" killings.

• Lack of Evidence: Many experts questioned the legality of the operations, as the Trump administration did not provide concrete evidence to support its accusations of drug smuggling by the vessels.

• Congressional Action: Lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties on the Armed Services Committees in both the House and Senate announced measures to prepare a full report on the operation.