An interview in Vanity Fair magazine with Trump’s chief of staff Susie Wiles, in which she made statements about a possible change of power in Venezuela, caused additional tension. “He (Trump) wants to keep blowing up boats until Maduro gives up. And people who know this much better than me say he will do that too,” Wiles was quoted as saying. She later said her comments had been taken out of context. Maduro has also long accused the USA of wanting to overthrow his government.
In recent months, the US armed forces have also assembled a powerful force of warships, fighter aircraft and soldiers off the coast of Venezuela. Also in debate is whether and when the US military will begin deploying troops on Venezuelan soil. Until now, Trump had only vaguely promised such operations.
