Washington, USA – Satellite images show a US warship conducting military exercises less than 200 kilometers off the coast of Venezuela. This move comes as the US intensifies its military presence in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific, according to Sky News reports.
This comes as Washington deploys an aircraft carrier equipped with the latest combat systems and escort ships armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles. Additionally, F/A-18 fighter jets and EA-18 Growler electronic warfare aircraft have been deployed. Meanwhile, B-52 and B-1 bombers have conducted reconnaissance missions near the Venezuelan coast.
In response, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro asserted that his country would not be defenseless. He pointed to his forces’ possession of Russian-made S-300 air defense systems and approximately 5,000 Igla-S man-portable air-defense systems. Caracas has also turned to Russia, China, and Iran for assistance in bolstering its military capabilities in the face of what it calls “American escalation.”
Informed sources have indicated that the Trump administration may soon launch targeted strikes against land-based facilities used by drug cartels, including ports and airports controlled by the Venezuelan military. This move could further exacerbate the political and security crisis in the country.
