DONALD Trump has reportedly ordered an urgent White House meeting tonight to discuss the “next steps” for Venezuela – as Washington and Caracas stand on the brink of all-out war.
It comes after Trump is said to have given Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro a dramatic “ultimatum” to step down and flee the country in a phone call on Sunday.
The US president will meet with top officials including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to CNN.
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller are also expected to attend.
Maduro was spotted in public for the first time in days on Sunday ending mounting speculation he had fled Venezuela after the call with Trump.
The Don had offered Maduro and his family safe passage from the country on the condition that he resign immediately, the Miami Herald reported.
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Trump reportedly told Maduro: “You can save yourself and those closest to you, but you must leave the country now.”
After the call, Trump told reporters: “I wouldn’t say it went well or badly, it was a phone call.”
A source said the pair’s discussion, which the New York Times reported took place last week, was viewed as a last-ditch effort to avoid a confrontation.
But it is understood that both leaders failed to reach an agreement after Caracas refused Washington’s ultimatum.
When asked if he had spoken with Maduro, Trump said: “I don’t want to comment on it. The answer is yes.”
Trump has warned that land operations will be coming “very soon”, telling pilots to avoid Venezuelan airspace.
The US president declared Venezuela’s airspace was “closed in its entirety” last week – after he vowed action would be taken in the near future.
The move – widely interpreted in Venezuela as a prelude to an imminent attack – stirred anxiety and sowed chaos in Caracas.
Soon reports emerged that a presidential jet flew from Caracas to the border with Brazil after the announcement.
According to the ADSB Exchange website, which monitors flight tracking data, the aircraft departed from Caracas and flew to the border with the Brazilian state of Roraima before returning to the Venezuelan capital.
It is not clear if Maduro was on that plane or not.
This follows ramped up pressure on the South American country by Trump, who now has 15,000 troops in the region as part of “Operation Southern Spear”.
US strikes on boats alleged to be carrying drugs from Venezuela have killed more than 80 people since September, according to Pentagon figures.
The legality of the strikes has come into question from lawmakers because the US is not officially at war with Venezuela, and the alleged drug smugglers had no trials.
Last week Trump designated Maduro and his government’s allies as members of a foreign terrorist organisation.
Officials argue that the designation will give the US more options to strike inside Venezuela.
Military experts say the easiest way for Trump to wipe out his targets inside Venezuela would be long-range bombings using US fighter jets and missile strikes.
The Don’s troops are backed up by dozens of warships, submarines, fighter jets armed with hundreds of long-range missile, as well as the biggest aircraft carrier in the world.
The state-of-the-art Gerald R Ford Carrier Strike Group has joined the American ring of steel stationed near Venezuelan waters.
B2 and B1 bombers capable of carrying the 30,000lb “Massive Ordnance Penetrator” have flown sorties off the coast of Venezuela.
Military helicopters and intelligence assets from the CIA are also keeping a close eye on Venezuela, with Pentagon planners reportedly preparing contingencies to seize ports and airfields if ordered.
