Trump administration assures Congress there is no plan to attack Venezuela

Officials from US President Donald Trump’s administration have informed Congress that Washington currently has no plans to conduct an air strike on Venezuela and lacks a legal basis for an attack on the country’s territory.

According to a CNN report citing sources familiar with the matter, this information was shared in a closed session.

Officials who attended the briefing stated that the increased US military presence in the Caribbean had raised questions about whether Washington was preparing for an attack on Venezuela.

The officials emphasized that military units were sent to the region solely to support counter-narcotics operations and gather intelligence.

However, a US official speaking to CNN stated that Washington’s position could change, saying, “What is true one day may be false the next.”

Request for legal opinion on attack without congressional approval

Meanwhile, according to information obtained by CNN, the Trump administration is seeking a separate legal opinion from the Department of Justice that would legitimize an attack on Venezuela without congressional approval.

The possibility of an attack had come to the forefront due to an opinion prepared by the US Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), which authorized strikes against targets suspected of transporting drugs.

It was reported that members of Congress emphasized in the closed session that an attack on land targets in Venezuela would be unacceptable.

The OLC’s assessment reportedly included a list of 24 different cartels and criminal organizations operating throughout Latin America, stating that the US administration has the authority to pursue these groups.

The Wall Street Journal reported on November 6 that Trump was uncertain about launching military action in Venezuela.

The report stated that Trump was concerned that the attacks might not result in the resignation of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

In a statement to the press on October 31, Trump denied a report by the Miami Herald, saying he was not considering the option of an attack on Venezuela.

The newspaper had claimed on the same day that the US could attack Venezuela in the coming days.