The Pentagon is deploying the largest military force to the Caribbean Sea, including sending Aegis guided-missile destroyers and amphibious assault ships, as well as thousands of Navy and Marine Corps soldiers, to combat drug trafficking groups in Latin America.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro claimed during a press conference on Monday (September 1) that eight US military ships carrying 1,200 missiles are targeting Venezuela, posing the biggest threat the country has faced in 100 years. Maduro accused the US of deploying military forces in the Caribbean Sea as a direct threat to Venezuela, questioning whether the US military’s “anti-drug” mission is aimed at overthrowing his regime to seek “regime change.”
Maduro staunchly declared himself as the legitimate elected president from last year’s election and warned that if the US military were to launch an attack, he would declare Venezuela as an “armed republic” according to the constitution, mobilizing the military and militias to defend national sovereignty.
Maduro stated that Venezuela has entered its highest state of defense readiness, deploying troops along the coast and border with neighboring Colombia, urging citizens to join militia organizations, and criticizing the highly threatening nature of the US deployment.
While the US plans to enhance its military presence along the Venezuelan coast this week to combat drug trafficking organizations in Latin America, there has been no indication of troop landings.
The US Navy currently has deployed two Aegis guided-missile destroyers – the USS Gravely and the USS Jason Dunham – in the coastal waters of Latin America, and has deployed the USS Sampson guided-missile destroyer and the USS Lake Erie cruiser in the region.
Officials at the Pentagon informed the Associated Press that the US military will further bolster its military presence in the area, with three amphibious assault ships set to enter the region this week, accompanied by over 4,000 Navy and Marine Corps soldiers.
Facing the US military deployment, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil argued on Monday that the US military deployment in the Caribbean was based on “incorrect assertions.” Citing a UN report, he mentioned that 87% of cocaine produced in Colombia is exported via the Pacific Ocean, with only 5% passing through Venezuela, suggesting that the largest cocaine-producing countries globally should be Bolivia and Colombia.
Gil, in an online meeting with members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), stated that the US actions not only threatened Venezuela but could also lead to “instability throughout the entire region.” He called on “Latin American and Caribbean states to jointly demand that the US halt this military deployment.”
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s neighboring country Guyana welcomed the US military deployment. Guyanese President Irfaan Ali stated that his country “will support all actions taken to eliminate threats to our security.”
The US Department of Justice has accused Maduro of being one of the world’s largest drug traffickers, allegedly collaborating with drug trafficking groups to smuggle large quantities of cocaine laced with fentanyl into the US. In August this year, the US government doubled the reward for Maduro to $50 million.
Additionally, the US, EU, and several Latin American countries have questioned the legitimacy of Maduro’s reelection in 2024. According to the Associated Press, these countries believe the election was a farce and recognize Maduro’s main challenger, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, as the legitimate president of Venezuela.
(*This article references reports from the Associated Press, CBS, and Deutsche Welle.)