In October, Donald Trump declared the United States was engaged in an armed conflict with Venezuelan drug cartels. Since then, at least 87 people have died in 21 US strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific that, according to officials in Washington, were carrying drugs.
But so far, the Trump administration has presented no evidence that the targeted boats were transporting drugs. Legal experts argue the attacks are illegal, and Congress has begun investigating the operations.
Meanwhile, Venezuela finds itself cornered by a US policy that raises several questions: what is Trump aiming for? How far is his government willing to go in Venezuela? Will there be a ground invasion, will only specific targets be struck, or is this all a game of threats?
