US considers dropping leaflets in Venezuela as pressure mounts on Maduro, sources say

Trump administration officials on Saturday discussed the possibility of dropping leaflets in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, in an attempt to weaken the regime. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Among the possible avenues discussed regarding operations for Venezuela was the dropping of American leaflets in Caracas as a form of psychological warfare to pressure Maduro, several U.S. officials familiar with the talks told News themezone.

The operation, which has not yet been authorized, could possibly take place on Sunday, officials said, when Maduro turns 63.

The Washington Post was the first to report on the proposed leaflet operation.

In recent months, the United States has increased pressure on Maduro in multiple ways, including extensive military reinforcement in the region. live fire exercisesand attacks on suspected drug trafficking ships in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

When asked on Monday, President Trump said he would not rule out sending US troops to Venezuela.

“No, I don’t rule it out,” the president said. “I’m not ruling anything out. We just have to take care of Venezuela.”

For his part, Maduro on the same day saying would be open to “face-to-face” conversations with Trump.

Last month, Mr. Trump also confirmed that has authorized the CIA to enter Venezuela and carry out covert operations.

The Pentagon has carried out at least 21 strikes since early September, killing at least 80 people. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said the attacks are designed to target cartels and drug traffickers, although has not provided evidence that the ships hit so far were carrying drugs.

There are currently about 15,000 US troops in the region. A Navy official told News themezone last week that the United States had four military ships in the western Atlantic, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s most advanced aircraft carrier, and three guided missile destroyers. It had seven other military vessels in the Caribbean, the official said, including two guided missile destroyers, two guided missile cruisers, one amphibious assault ship and two amphibious transport port ships.

There are also several dozen American fighter jets. stationed in Puerto Rico.

Maduro, who has led Venezuela since 2013, faced an international outcry when he declared victory in Venezuela’s presidential election in July 2024. Although the results show had lost by a wide margin to the opposition candidate.

The United States is one of several nations that does not recognize him as president of Venezuela. The Trump administration accused him of operating a cartel that funnels drugs into the United States and offered a $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest.