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The United States have deployed warships to the Southern Caribbean, escalating tensions with Venezuela amid efforts to combat drug cartels.
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Tensions have escalated between the United States and Venezuela after the former deployed a large number of naval forces to the Southern Caribbean and and nearby waters, according to news agency Reuters.
Washington has said that the naval buildup in the Southern Caribbean is aimed at combating drug cartels in Latin America.
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The Trump administration has made targeting drug trafficking a key part of its agenda, linking it to broader efforts to curb illegal migration and secure the US southern border. While US Navy and Coast Guard ships routinely patrol the region, the current deployment is significantly larger than usual, the Reuters report mentioned.
The news agency cited a US official as saying that seven warships and a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine are either already in the region or en route.
Ships such as the USS San Antonio, USS Iwo Jima, and USS Fort Lauderdale are part of the fleet, carrying around 4,500 personnel, including 2,200 Marines. The report further stated that the US military is also operating P-8 spy planes in international waters for intelligence gathering.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has condemned the US presence. Venezuela has lodged a complaint with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, accusing the US of violating the UN Charter.
“It’s a massive propaganda operation to justify what the experts call kinetic action – meaning military intervention in a country which is a sovereign and independent country and is no threat to anyone,” Venezuela’s UN Ambassador Samuel Moncada said after meeting with Guterres, according to the report.
In response, the White House emphasized that President Trump is prepared to use “every element of American power” to combat drug trafficking. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that several Caribbean nations support the US operations.
“Many Caribbean nations and many nations in the region have applauded the administration’s counter drug operations and efforts,” Reuters quoted Leavitt as saying.
In February, the Trump administration designated major drug cartels—including Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua—as global terrorist organizations.
About the Author
Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com’s general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18…Read More
Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com’s general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18… Read More
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