Does Trump really want to invade Venezuela?

Americast

BBC

Politics, Government, News

4.2 • 2.8K Ratings

🗓️ 22 October 2025

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Why is Donald Trump intent on targeting Venezuela, and what’s really behind the continued targeting of boats in the Carribean Sea? The U.S. military began attacking vessels in early September, and have maintained - without evidence - that the people killed in these military strikes were ‘terrorists’ and drug smugglers for cartels and criminal gangs.

In this episode, Sarah and Anthony look at why the Trump administration has focused its rhetoric on President Nicolás Maduro, the authoritarian leader of Venezuela, and how seriously we should take the president’s threat of land strikes. Will Maduro’s attempts to calm the situation make a difference? Also, the Americast team discuss how the tension is spilling over into other South American countries, with the president of Columbia claiming the Trump administration has “murdered” a Columbian fisherman.

HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent

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This episode was made by Rufus Gray, Alix Pickles and Kris Jalowiecki. The technical producer was Jonny Hall. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.
0:06.5	Conspiracy theories really can impact the way the world works.
0:10.0	Disinformation, you think you're winning.
0:12.3	There could be a thousand deep face.
0:14.0	But it's because of you, we work 24-7 to verify the facts with digital tools and reporters on the ground.
0:21.8	BBC News, Moscow, La Quodja, in the West Bank.
0:24.6	So, no matter how quickly disinformation spreads, we'll be ready.
0:30.0	The fight for truth is on.
0:32.6	Trust is earned.
0:34.0	This is our BBC.
0:36.3	Just how far is Donald Trump prepared to go when it comes to the United States versus Venezuela and why?
0:43.1	What we've seen is his administration really ratcheting up the pressure
0:47.5	that have been continued attacks on boats in the Caribbean,
0:50.8	which the US says are smuggling drugs.
0:53.0	And just in the last week, Donald Trump
0:54.9	was asked whether he was even considering military strikes on Venezuelan land.
0:59.8	Well, I don't want to tell you exactly, but we are certainly looking at land now, because we've
1:03.8	got the sea very well under control. We've had a couple of days where there isn't a boat to be
1:09.5	found. And that, I view that as a good thing, not a bad thing.
1:13.1	So what's all this really about?
1:14.8	Is it a conflict over drug smuggling?
1:17.6	Is there more to it?
	...

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