Former National Security Council chief of staff Fred Fleitz and ex-Ukraine armed forces adviser Dan Rice told Newsmax Saturday that the United States is entering a decisive phase in its confrontation with Venezuela — and President Donald Trump is taking unprecedented steps to put the Maduro regime and its drug cartels on notice.

Fleitz highlighted Trump’s recent declaration to shut down Venezuelan airspace as a bold escalation aimed squarely at narcotics trafficking networks funneling drugs into the U.S. He noted that while airstrikes on drug labs, distribution hubs, and select military facilities are under consideration, there is no intention of sending in ground troops. “We’re not going to invade Venezuela,” Fleitz said, keeping America safe while still striking hard where it matters.

Rice pointed out that the U.S. has assembled the largest naval presence in the region since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, a clear signal that Washington means business — though he warned such a posture can’t last indefinitely. He also suggested that Trump’s closure of Venezuelan airspace is just the first step, and that special operations or intelligence personnel may already be in place to coordinate future strikes.

Even the threat of U.S. action, Rice noted, is enough to scatter cartels, disrupt supply lines, and force traffickers to rethink their operations. “Under [former President Joe] Biden, being a narcoterrorist was a great career path,” Rice said. “Not so much anymore.”

Trump’s approach demonstrates exactly what leadership looks like: decisive, strategic, and results-oriented — keeping America safe while sending a clear message to dictators and drug traffickers alike. The region is watching, and the cartels are paying attention.