WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly placed Venezuelan airfields and naval bases on a list of potential military targets amid growing tensions with the government of Nicolás Maduro, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The White House suspects that several Venezuelan military installations are involved in large-scale drug trafficking operations. While no final decision has been made regarding a potential strike, the report suggests the United States is actively considering its options.

The move marks a sharp escalation in Washington’s campaign against Maduro, whom the U.S. has long accused of maintaining close ties with drug cartels. To reinforce its stance, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, has been deployed off the Venezuelan coast.

57 Killed in U.S. Anti-Drug Strikes

According to recent briefings, U.S. military strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean have already resulted in at least 57 deaths.

However, a Politico report on Thursday revealed that the U.S. military does not always identify the targets beforehand. A confidential Pentagon briefing reportedly stated that a suspected connection to drug trafficking is sufficient to authorize an attack, without prior confirmation of the individuals on board.

Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have voiced concerns that such operations could trigger a broader conflict with Venezuela. Trump previously authorized the CIA to conduct covert missions inside Venezuelan territory, further heightening regional tension.

Maduro Denies Accusations and Warns of Retaliation

In Caracas, President Nicolás Maduro has categorically denied the U.S. allegations, dismissing them as “gross provocations.” He warned that any military strike on Venezuelan soil would be met with a forceful response.

“Venezuela will not stand idly by in the face of aggression,” Maduro said during a televised address.

The developments come amid ongoing instability in the Caribbean region, where the U.S. military has intensified its anti-narcotics presence. The situation remains volatile as Washington weighs its next steps — and as Venezuela braces for what it calls a potential act of foreign aggression.