Trump Warns of Potential U.S. 'Military Option' in Venezuela

via bloomberg.com - President Donald Trump said he’s considering a military option in response to the political and economic crisis in Venezuela, raising the specter of a U.S. intervention in Latin America that could spread turmoil in the region.

Trump’s statement on Friday suggested the U.S. may get more deeply involved in Venezuela, which has been subject to increasing sanctions since President Nicolas Maduro convened a national assembly designed to rewrite the country’s constitution and consolidate his power.

“Venezuela is not very far away, and the people are suffering, and they’re dying,” Trump said during a brief news conference Friday at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. “We have many options for Venezuela, including a possible military option, if necessary.”

The president declined to say whether the U.S. would seek to overthrow Maduro. He gave no specifics on what the U.S. would do militarily or whether it would act unilaterally. Vice President Mike Pence is heading to South America this weekend, with stops including Colombia, Argentina and Chile over several days.

Trump’s comment on considering a military option in Venezuela prompted a negative response from a fellow Republican, Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska, a member of the Armed Services Committee.

“No, Congress obviously isn’t authorizing war in Venezuela,” Sasse, a regular critic of the president, said in a statement. “Nicolas Maduro is a horrible human being, but Congress doesn’t vote to spill Nebraskans’ blood based on who the Executive lashes out at today.” (ontinueReading