Trump 'prepared to use every element of American power' on Venezuela: White House

WASHINGTON

President Donald Trump is fully prepared to use every element of American power against Venezuela, the White House said Thursday after the US sent warships to the region.

Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt maintained that she would not "get ahead" of any potential military action that Trump might undertake, but said "many Caribbean nations and many nations in the region have applauded the administration's counter drug operations and efforts."

"And the president is prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice," she said. "The Maduro regime is not the legitimate government of Venezuela. It is a narco-terror cartel. Maduro is not a legitimate president. He is a fugitive head of this drug cartel."

The Trump administration earlier this month doubled a bounty for information on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, creating a lump sum of $50 million for intelligence that leads to his arrest on narcotics allegations.

Reports indicated last week that the US Navy was sending three Aegis-class guided missile destroyers to international waters close to Venezuela. The Washington Post reported Wednesday that eight US Navy warships were being sent to the region.

Amid the tensions, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said Monday that military vessels and drones are being deployed to patrol the country’s coastline.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Trump during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday that Argentina joined what he called the "international coalition" supporting the US offensive against drug trafficking and the Maduro government.

"The world is supporting us. Just last week, Ecuador, Paraguay, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago; today, Argentina. Everyone is joining us to help move this forward,” he said.