President Donald Trump says he’s not going to rule out any military intervention in Venezuela which has come under increased pressure for its human rights abuses.<br /><br />More than 120 people have been killed in the Latin American country and thousands arrested in over four months of unrest.<br /><br />“The people are suffering and they are dying. We have many options for Venezuela including a possible military option if necessary,” Trump told reporters at his golf club in New Jersey, alongside Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley. <br />Trump says he’s considering possible military action against Venezuela in response to Maduro’s power grab. https://t.co/nNGs4NLpv9— The Associated Press (@AP) August 11, 2017<br /> Venezuelan authorities have long said US officials were planning an invasion. A former military general told Reuters earlier this year that some anti-aircraft missiles had been placed along the country’s coast for precisely that eventuality.<br /><br />In Washington, the Pentagon said the US military was ready to support efforts to protect US citizens and America’s national interests, but that insinuations by Caracas of a planned US invasion were “baseless.”<br /><br />Trump’s suggestion of possible military action came in a week when he has repeatedly threatened a military response if North Korea threatens the United States or its allies.<br /><br />Asked if US forces would lead an operation in Venezuela, Trump declined to provide details. “We don’t talk about it but a military operation – a military option – is certainly something that we could pursue,” he said.<br />Twitter users in South America – especially Venezuela – going nuts right now as word gets out about what Trump said about Venezuela.— Gabriel Elizondo (@elizondogabriel) August 11, 2017<br /><br />The government in Caracas did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s threat.<br />
