Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says Trump admin understands boat strikes are 'part of a larger puzzle'

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed the deeper meaning behind the Trump administration s military buildup in the Caribbean as the top U S general visits troops in Puerto Rico on Monday I do think that this administration understands that this is all part of a larger puzzle Pompeo described The Story anchor Martha MacCallum The White House has yet to issue an official declaration on Operation Southern Spear the largest military operation in that region since the Cuban Missile Emergency More than strikes have taken place against suspected drug trafficking boats US MILITARY BUILDUP IN CARIBBEAN SEES BOMBERS MARINES AND WARSHIPS CONVERGE NEAR VENEZUELA On Nov War Secretary Pete Hegseth released in an X post that the operation aims to remove narco-terrorists from the Western Hemisphere When MacCallum urged Pompeo whether he thinks President Donald Trump wants to see Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro toppled the former CIA director shared what he thinks the Trump administration is very serious about AIRLINES PULL VENEZUELA FLIGHTS AMID SAFETY WARNING AS TRUMP RATCHETS UP PRESSURE ON MADURO The Venezuelans are supported by the Cubans the Russians and the Chinese now in our own neighborhood Pompeo discussed And getting rid of Maduro gives the Venezuelan people a shot and keeps us safer So I think that this administration is very serious very serious about continuing to ratchet up the pressure on the regime such that the Venezuelan people get an opportunity to have a leadership that can indeed protect them and give them a shot at prosperity he continued Since the Justice Department has accused Maduro of leading a drug trafficking and narco-terrorism organization TRUMP LEAVES WORLD GUESSING AFTER LABELING MADURO A TERRORIST HINTING AT TALKS WITH VENEZUELAPompeo noted the first Trump administration failed to topple Maduro something even former President Barack Obama wished However the Venezuelans have been willing to do more he added We never know how these end When you least expect these things sometimes they happen Pompeo announced And I think that the leadership in Venezuela outside of Maduro now can see that there is a window and maybe with enough opportunity and enough pressure we can deliver that outcome