United States forces have conducted over 21 strikes on vessels suspected of transporting narcotics from Venezuela, resulting in more than 80 deaths. President Donald Trump announced plans to expand these operations to land-based actions against Venezuelan drug gangs, warning that such measures would begin 'very soon.' The United States has accused Venezuela's president, Nicolas Maduro, of involvement in the drug trade, a charge he denies, and has designated several Venezuelan groups as terrorist organizations. Venezuelan officials claim the United States is using the war on drugs as a pretext to gain access to the country's natural resources, while tensions between the two nations continue to escalate.