ICYMI: Trump administration reportedly considers Venezuela strikes, oil-field seizures | investingLive

ICYMI – White House weighs Venezuela strikes and oil-field seizure said a piece in the NYT on Tuesday.

The Trump administration is reportedly considering military strikes on Venezuelan military targets and the potential seizure of the country’s oil fields, according to a New York Times report citing internal discussions.

The report said the deliberations form part of contingency planning amid escalating tensions with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government, which Washington has accused of narcotics trafficking and criminal activity.

Asked about the story, White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly told Newsweek that President Donald Trump remained focused on combating drug trafficking, but dismissed other elements of the report as speculative.

“President Trump has been clear in his message to [Venezuelan President Nicolás] Maduro: stop sending drugs and criminals to our country,” Kelly said. “The President has made clear that he will continue to strike narcoterrorists trafficking illicit narcotics – anything else is speculation and should be treated as such.”

The New York Times reported that no final decision has been made and that U.S. officials are evaluating potential diplomatic and economic consequences, particularly for global oil markets. Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven crude reserves, and any attempt to seize its fields would represent a dramatic escalation in U.S. policy toward Caracas.