Trump states that Washington has no plans to topple Maduro in Venezuela

In a significant development, the U.S. has struck a vessel in international waters, reportedly carrying drugs, in the southern part of the Caribbean Sea. This action, according to CNN, marks the beginning of "significantly more extensive efforts to rid the region of drug trafficking."

The vessel, which sank as a result of the strike, reportedly claimed eleven lives. The U.S. President, Donald Trump, made the announcement, alluding to the vessel's alleged involvement in drug trafficking. Trump has been vocal about his concerns regarding drug cartels operating in Venezuela, and this action seems to be part of a broader strategy to address the issue.

The potential strikes could include targets within Venezuela as part of a broader strategy to weaken President Nicolás Maduro. However, it's important to note that Trump has stated that he is not discussing a regime change in Venezuela.

The U.S. has gathered an entire fleet off the coast of Venezuela, a development that was not previously reported. The Pentagon Chief has stated they are ready for an operation to overthrow President Maduro, according to a report by the Katapult Magazin.

The drug trafficking issue in Venezuela has been a contentious one, with allegations of vote rigging surrounding last year's presidential elections. The U.S. has issued a statement naming Eduardo González, who left the country seeking asylum in Spain after the elections, as the legitimate winner of the elections. According to data collected by the opposition, González had won with 2/3 of the votes, defeating Maduro by 38 percentage points, with 7.3 million votes against 3.3 million.

However, the National Electoral Council of Venezuela announced that President Nicolás Maduro won the presidential elections with 51.2% of the votes, while the opposition candidate, Eduardo González, received 44.2% of the votes. The European Union, meanwhile, agreed not to recognise Maduro's election as president of Venezuela.

As the situation in Venezuela continues to unfold, it is clear that the U.S. is taking a firm stance against drug trafficking in the region. The international community will be closely watching developments as they unfold.