Washington Escalates Military Presence in Latin America, Trump Claims Decision Made on Venezuela
Recent weeks have seen a notable increase in U.S.military activity in Latin America, including the deployment of warships, fighter jets, and thousands of troops. U.S. forces have also conducted attacks on 21 suspected drug-trafficking vessels, resulting in at least 80 fatalities. The worldS largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R.ford, arrived in the region last Tuesday as part of a stated effort too combat drug trafficking.
The heightened U.S. military presence has sparked concerns of potential intervention in Venezuela, with the Venezuelan government alleging a hidden regime change plot. These anxieties were fueled by reports, citing senior military officials, that former President Donald Trump was presented with options for a possible military operation in Venezuela, including ground attacks. While Trump previously dismissed the possibility of war with Venezuela on November 2nd, he asserted that the days of President Nicolás Maduro, whom he accuses of being a drug lord, were numbered. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has also voiced concerns that the U.S.deployment aims to seize Venezuela’s oil wealth and destabilize the region. In response,Venezuela has deployed its own military forces to counter the growing U.S. naval presence off its coast.