Venezuela‘s President Nicolas Maduro has ordered the deployment of warships and drones to patrol the country’s coastline in response to the United States’ recent military build-up in the region.
This move comes after Washington deployed an amphibious squadron of three warships towards Venezuela’s coast, citing an operation against Latin American drug cartels.
The US naval presence in the area has been further reinforced with the addition of a guided missile cruiser and a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, with approximately 4,500 US service members, including 2,200 Marines, participating in the deployment.
The US has accused Maduro and members of his government of involvement in cocaine trafficking and working with drug cartels, specifically the Venezuelan cocaine trafficking cartel Cartel de los Soles, which Washington has designated a terrorist organization.
Consequently, the US has doubled the reward for Maduro’s capture or prosecution on drug charges to $50 million and offered a $25 million reward for the arrest or prosecution of Venezuelan Minister of the Popular Power for Interior Diosdado Cabello.
Maduro has vehemently denied these allegations, accusing the US of attempting to instigate regime change in his country.
In response to the US military build-up, Maduro has mobilized hundreds of thousands of local militia members to strengthen national security.
Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino announced a “significant” drone deployment and naval patrols along the country’s Caribbean coast, including larger vessels further north in Venezuelan territorial waters.
Some 15,000 Venezuelan troops have also been dispatched to the country’s border with Colombia to crack down on criminal groups involved in drug trafficking.
Padrino further revealed that an ongoing operation in Venezuela’s northeastern corner had resulted in the dismantling of shipyards where criminals intended to manufacture semisubmersibles and boats to transport drugs by sea to markets in Europe and North America.
The Venezuelan government has denounced the US’s “escalation of hostile actions and threats” in a letter to the United Nations, describing Washington’s actions as “a serious threat to regional peace and security”.
The presence of a nuclear-powered attack submarine was characterized as “a clear act of intimidation”. Venezuela has demanded guarantees that the US will not deploy or threaten to use nuclear weapons in the region.
Despite the heightened tensions, analysts have downplayed the possibility of a US invasion or US strikes on Venezuela. Many Venezuelans have shrugged off the US threat as posturing, with some viewing it as an attempt to create anxiety and force Maduro to negotiate.
International Crisis Group analyst Phil Gunson suggests that the US is trying to create pressure on Maduro’s government, potentially leading to negotiations.
The situation is further complicated by Maduro’s disputed presidency, with many countries, including the US, not recognizing him as the legitimate president of Venezuela.
The US has maintained a policy of maximum pressure on Venezuela, including an ongoing oil embargo, but this has failed to dislodge Maduro from power. As tensions between the two countries continue to escalate, the situation remains volatile and unpredictable.