Top Trump Security Aides Brief Congress as President Signals Possible Expansion of Latin America Operations

WASHINGTON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Senior U.S. national security advisers held a classified briefing on Tuesday for top congressional leaders to explain the administration's campaign against suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers, while President Donald Trump indicated he might broaden military activity into Mexico and Colombia.

Who Briefed Congress
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine and CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with the so-called "Gang of Eight" — the leaders and intelligence committee chairs from both houses of Congress — after lawmakers pressed for more information about the strikes.

Lawmakers React
Democrats emerged from the classified session dissatisfied. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York told reporters he asked officials about the strategy and operations but did not receive satisfactory answers. Republican lawmakers largely declined comment beyond saying they were still reviewing the briefing materials.

President's Comments
In a wide-ranging interview with Politico published on Monday, Trump said he could extend anti-drug military operations to Mexico and Colombia and repeatedly refused to rule out deploying U.S. troops to Venezuela as part of efforts to remove President Nicolas Maduro. When asked whether he would consider using force against drug-trafficking hubs in other countries, including Mexico and Colombia, Trump said: "I would."

Campaign Details and Scrutiny
U.S. naval forces have concentrated in the southern Caribbean since early September. U.S. officials say at least 22 strikes on vessels in waters off Venezuela have killed nearly 90 people. The campaign drew heightened scrutiny after new details emerged about a Sept. 2 decision to launch a second strike on a suspected drug boat that reportedly killed survivors of the first attack.

Strategy Framing and International Comments
Trump's Politico interview reiterated the themes of a sweeping national security strategy released last week that aides described as a modern corollary to the 19th-century Monroe Doctrine, calling for a more assertive U.S. role in the Western Hemisphere and warning Europe to change course or face what the strategy described as potential "erasure."

"They're weak," Trump told Politico of many European political leaders, adding they aim to be "so politically correct." A European Commission spokesperson defended EU leaders and stressed Europe's ongoing commitment to the Union despite pressures such as Russia's war in Ukraine and U.S. tariff actions.

Other Notes
On Ukraine, Trump said it was time for elections as the war nears its fourth year; Ukraine was expected to share a revised peace plan with the United States on Tuesday, following hurried talks with European leaders. Trump also said he did not promise financial assistance to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during Orban's recent White House visit, though he acknowledged Orban had asked for support.

The briefing and the president's comments underscore a shift in tone and posture in U.S. policy toward Latin America and reflect an administration pressing for a more forceful regional approach to drug trafficking and related political challenges.