Tensions escalate in the Caribbean with the arrival of an American aircraft carrier and the deployment of a Venezuelan military news

The Caribbean region is witnessing increasing tension after the US Defense Department (Pentagon) announced the arrival of the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier group off the coast of Latin America, as part of what Washington says are operations to combat drug smuggling.

The Southern Command of the US Naval Forces said that the carrier, which was ordered to be deployed about 3 weeks ago, had entered the scope of its operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, stressing that the goal of the mission was to “protect regional security and combat illicit drug trafficking.”

Since last August, Washington has maintained a military presence in the Caribbean Sea, including 6 warships, stressing that it aims to combat drug smuggling into its territory.

Twenty air strikes on ships the United States suspected of carrying drugs killed at least 76 people.

Military deployment

On the other hand, Venezuela announced the implementation of a “huge” military deployment across the country in response to what it described as American “imperialist threats.”

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said that his country deployed land, sea, air and missile forces, in addition to units of the Bolivarian militia to strengthen national defenses.

Caracas believes that Washington is using the anti-drug issue as a “pretext” to put pressure on the government of President Nicolas Maduro and “forcefully change the regime,” while the United States says that its naval presence in the region aims exclusively to “confront the smuggling networks” targeting its territory.

Maduro has called several times for dialogue, but he confirms that he is ready to defend himself, constantly opposing military activities inside the country.

This escalation coincides with the conclusion of the summit of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States with the European Union in the Colombian city of Santa Marta, where the final statement stressed the rejection of the use of force or interference in the internal affairs of countries, and welcomed what it described as the first phase agreement to end the war in Gaza, denouncing at the same time the Israeli escalation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.