President Donald Trump has intensified diplomatic strain on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, suggesting that it would be wise for him to vacate his position and cautioning him to reconsider any aggressive posturing.

During a session with the press at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Monday night, Trump was queried about whether his administration’s main objective in Venezuela is to depose Maduro.

Trump responded, "Arguably, that’s what it could mean. I can't dictate his actions. It's his decision to make. It would be astute for him to resign. But again, we'll see how events unfold."

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In addition, Trump issued a forewarning to Maduro.

He remarked, "He can make any choice he desires, but if he opts for defiance, it might be his final act of such bravado."

Trump further stated, "We possess a formidable naval force positioned for him—the greatest we have ever assembled, notably within South American waters."

Recently, the U.S. has fortified its presence in the region, commissioning 15,000 American troops and numerous battleships stationed in the Caribbean.

Last week, Trump commanded what he termed a "full embargo" on oil tankers entering and exiting Venezuelan waters, aiming at crippling the Maduro regime’s primary financial lifeline.

Maduro declared that Venezuela would surmount the effects of what he denounced as a "blockade" and firmly stated that any attempt at overthrowing his government would fall flat.

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Separately, since last September, U.S. military forces have initiated numerous strikes against vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific regions suspected of narcotics transportation. The campaign has allegedly claimed over 100 lives, sparking legal debates within multiple political factions. Nonetheless, the administration justifies these measures under its asserted "war" against drug cartels.

Trump stated, "We will soon expand similar operations onto land. Ground operations are considerably simpler."

While Trump hinted at future land-based incursions into Venezuela, he also expanded his warning to potential operations in other nations engaged in narcotics trafficking.

In response to whether he was exclusively referring to Venezuela for terrestrial strikes, Trump clarified, "Any place drug influxes originate, not limited to Venezuela."