Trump to Meet Venezuelan Opposition Leader Machado, Vows Land Strikes on Cartels

• US President Donald Trump announced he will meet Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado next week, who is in exile and a Nobel Peace Prize winner.
• Trump stated the US will begin targeting drug cartels on Venezuelan land, following previous strikes in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
• The US campaign against drug cartels has resulted in over 100 deaths in strikes on alleged drug boats since September, including a land strike in Venezuela.
• Trump is scheduled to meet with major US oil executives to discuss acquiring Venezuelan oil reserves, confirmed by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
• Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodriguez asserted her country is not "subjugated" by the US, refuting Trump's claims of control after removing Nicolas Maduro.

Why It Matters: Trump plans a high-stakes meeting with Maria Machado while escalating anti-cartel operations and eyeing Venezuelan oil.