US Vice President JD Vance has refuted claims of exclusion from the planning of the Venezuela operation. Vance stated that he is actively involved in the administration’s work on Venezuela and chairs regular meetings of White House principals. He emphasized that both he and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard were not excluded from the planning, contrary to rumors.
Vance disclosed that the operation’s planning was kept confidential within the administration and involved senior cabinet-level officials. He expressed pride in the secrecy maintained around the operation for an extended period. Vance highlighted his commitment to following President Donald Trump’s directives and leading meetings among White House principals every other day to discuss next steps for ensuring Venezuela’s stability.
The administration’s objective, as outlined by Vance, is to influence the behavior of Venezuela’s leadership in alignment with US interests. Vance stressed the importance of the new Venezuelan government cooperating with the United States for mutual benefit. While operational specifics were not provided, Vance underscored the effective internal coordination within the team, indicating strong collaboration among members.
In response to concerns in the Caribbean region, Vance emphasized the administration’s efforts to curb illicit revenue sources that fuel destabilization. He mentioned President Trump’s productive discussions with the president of Colombia and ongoing dialogues with Caribbean partners at various government levels. Vance asserted that disrupting transnational criminal groups’ revenue streams, such as from the drug trade, would contribute to stabilizing Latin America and the Caribbean.
Vance characterized Trump’s strategy as peace-oriented, aiming to establish respect for the US and legitimate governments while disempowering criminal organizations. He reiterated the administration’s commitment to promoting peace in the hemisphere by shifting power from criminal cartels to lawful authorities. Vance affirmed his continued involvement in the Venezuela operation as long as the president requires his participation.
