U.S. president Donald Trump said on Monday it would be “smart” for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to step down, as American naval forces intensified a blockade targeting Venezuela’s oil exports.
Asked by reporters at his Florida home if Washington’s threats were designed to force Maduro to leave office after 12 years, Trump said: “That’s up to him, what he wants to do. I think it would be smart for him to do that.”
But he added: “If he wants to do something—if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’s ever able to play tough.”
The comments came as U.S. forces continued maritime operations that have included strikes on vessels Washington says are linked to drug trafficking.
Russia, a key ally of Caracas, expressed “full support” for Maduro’s government following a phone call between their respective foreign ministers. Moscow warned that U.S. actions in the Caribbean could destabilise the region and endanger international shipping.
The escalating standoff comes as the United Nations Security Council prepares to discuss the crisis, with Venezuela warning that the U.S. blockade could disrupt global oil and energy supplies.
