Venezuela Vows Retaliation as U.S. Naval Presence Increases Amid Drug Trafficking Accusations
CARACAS – As the United States dispatches five warships and approximately 4,000 troops to the Southern Caribbean near Venezuelan waters, venezuelan officials are escalating their rhetoric, warning of severe consequences should the U.S. intervene. The deployment,framed by Washington as a counter-narcotics operation,arrives alongside a heightened reward of $50 million for the capture of President nicolás Maduro,accused of links to drug trafficking.
The escalating tensions represent a new flashpoint in the strained relationship between the two nations. Venezuela views the U.S. military maneuvers as a direct threat to its sovereignty, while the U.S. maintains its focus is solely on disrupting illicit drug routes. This situation unfolds against a backdrop of existing U.S. sanctions and indictments against maduro and key allies, alleging involvement in a criminal enterprise known as “The Cartel of the Suns.”
Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez issued a stark warning to the United States, stating they “will be his worst nightmare,” according to reports. Together, Venezuela has been bolstering its own defense capabilities, with reports indicating increased participation in the Bolivarian militia – a civilian-based military component with strong ideological alignment - by employees, parliamentarians, and electoral authorities.
Maduro himself has denounced the U.S. naval deployment as a provocation,directly linking it to the ongoing accusations of drug trafficking.The U.S. asserts the military presence is intended to combat the flow of narcotics from Venezuela, a key transit country for drugs destined for the united States. The increased reward for Maduro’s capture underscores the seriousness with which Washington views these allegations.
