
On Monday afternoon, local time, Donald Trump will chair a meeting in the Oval Office on next steps in Venezuela, as the United States increases pressure on the country with operations on naval targets and a strengthened military presence in the Caribbean.
According to sources cited by CNN, the meeting is expected to be attended by senior members of the Cabinet and national security team, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Kaine and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.
The meeting, scheduled for 5 p.m., comes as the United States has ramped up pressure on Venezuela, with raids on suspected drug ships and a military buildup in the Caribbean. Trump said last week that the United States would end drug trafficking on land "very quickly," in addition to naval operations.
Over the weekend, Trump issued a broad warning on social media, urging airlines to avoid Venezuelan airspace, and on Sunday he asked reporters "not to pay too much attention" to the tweet.
He also confirmed that he had spoken to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on the phone, but did not provide details of the conversation.
The White House meeting comes as members of Congress continue to question the legality of US attacks on suspected drug trafficking ships in the region, which have killed more than 80 people.