Rising Tensions in the Caribbean: U.S. Operations and the Future of Maduro‘s Leadership
Caracas, Venezuela – A series of recent incidents in the Caribbean Sea involving attacks on vessels suspected of drug trafficking have resulted in at least 64 confirmed fatalities, with only three survivors – a Peruvian and a Colombian repatriated to thier home countries, and a third individual rescued following an attack last Wednesday. These operations are occurring amidst escalating rhetoric from the Trump administration regarding Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the possibility of further intervention.
Initially, the Trump Administration framed these actions as necesary to combat drug cartels, characterizing the situation as an “armed conflict.” However, the administration has increasingly suggested a broader objective – potentially the overthrow of Maduro.The U.S. government accuses Maduro of being involved in drug trafficking, labeling Venezuela a “narco-state,” and has doubled the reward for his capture to fifty million dollars. Reports indicate the CIA has been authorized to conduct covert missions within Venezuela,and President Trump has alluded to a “second phase” of the campaign moving to land.
When questioned by O’Donnell about the potential for military action, President Trump offered a non-committal response: “I’m not saying it’s true or false. I wouldn’t be inclined to say I would, but I’m not going to tell a journalist if I’m going to attack or not.”
The United States currently maintains a significant military presence in the Caribbean, consisting of a dozen American ships, 10,000 soldiers, and F-35 aircraft. This force is expected to be augmented by the arrival of the Gerald Ford aircraft carrier, the largest and most modern in the U.S. fleet, boasting a crew of 5,000.
The most recent reported attack, occurring on Saturday, resulted in the deaths of all three individuals on board, as announced by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth via Twitter. Hegseth has not released details regarding the identities of those killed, the alleged drugs being transported, or the criminal association purportedly controlling the vessel.
He stated the boat was operated by an “organization designated as terrorist.” In February, the State Department added the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to its list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations, alongside six Mexican cartels: Sinaloa, Jalisco Nueva Generación, del Noroeste, del Golfo, La Nueva Familia Michoacana, and the United Carteles.
Hegseth further asserted, ”Our intelligence services knew that this vessel-like ALL THE OTHERS-was involved in illicit drug smuggling, was traveling along a known drug trafficking route and was transporting narcotics.” He accompanied his statement with a video depicting the moment a U.S. projectile struck and destroyed the boat.
