Former President Donald Trump was preparing to take Nicolás Maduro head on. He had recently designated the Venezuelan leader as the head of a foreign terrorist organization. This announcement serves to escalate tensions further and increase the military presence across the region. As Trump seeks to address what he labels as the illegitimacy of Maduro’s government, he has made recent moves that signal a more aggressive approach towards Venezuela.
In his first four years, Trump tried and failed to depose Maduro. Observers have commented that Maduro’s government was internationally recognized as illegitimate ever since the disputed election last year. Within this daunting context, Trump has ratcheted up his pressure on Maduro. He dispatched the largest naval force to Venezuela’s northern coast in nearly two centuries and ordered a campaign of airstrikes against suspected narco-boats operating in the Caribbean Sea.
When the news broke in September that Lindsey Halligan had been added to Trump’s personal legal team—she had no previous experience as a prosecutor. Halligan, who is the newest member of the team, immediately volunteered and was selected to serve as interim US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia. Despite its importance, this position has recently come under fire. A recent ruling by federal judge Cameron McGowan Currie declared Halligan’s appointment illegal, complicating her role as Trump’s legal representative.
The U.S. government has significantly increased pressures on Maduro’s government. It has formally designated the Cartel de los Soles a foreign terrorist organization. U.S. officials claim that this narcotrafficking cartel is directed by Maduro and senior members of his regime. The Venezuelan government has denied these allegations, calling them “a vile lie.”
Yet Trump’s legal team has a historic number of hurdles ahead of them. The two are leading efforts to dismiss criminal prosecutions of former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. A federal judge dismissed these cases just this past week. In reply, Pam Bondi, another member of Trump’s legal team, said she would appeal.
“I take all available legal action, including an immediate appeal,” – Pam Bondi
The already-difficult legal challenges facing Comey and James are made infinitely worse by their relationship of proximity to Trump. Comey had been in charge of the FBI’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. That investigation led to his dismissal by Trump in 2017.
Trump’s strategy appears aimed at first maximizing his political narrative. He goes after what he sees as the corruption and illegitimacy in Maduro’s regime. Unnamed administration officials have said that the door to some military options remains open. They’ve ruled out direct military intervention at this stage.
“Nobody is planning to go in and shoot him or snatch him — at this point. I wouldn’t say never, but that’s not the plan right now,” – Unnamed official
As Trump prepares to engage in direct talks with Maduro, he is increasing the U.S. military presence throughout the region. The true fallout from these moves has yet to be unveiled. Analysts don’t have a long enough track record to know for sure. They are rightly focused on foreign and domestic response to Trump’s tactics in this new, complicated geo-political chessboard.