Venezuelan Military Aircraft Provokes US Navy Vessel in International Waters
In a daring move that has escalated tensions between Venezuela and the United States, two Venezuelan military aircraft flew dangerously close to a US Navy vessel in international waters on Thursday. The US Department of Defense did not mince words, labeling the incident as “highly provocative.”
The Defense Department released a stern statement, condemning the actions of the Maduro regime’s military aircraft. The move was perceived as a deliberate attempt to disrupt US counter narco-terror operations in the region.
“The cartel running Venezuela is strongly cautioned against any further attempts to impede, discourage, or interfere with the vital counter-narcotics and counter-terror operations conducted by the US military,” the statement warned.
The US military has recently deployed over 4,000 Marines and sailors to Latin America and the Caribbean waters as part of an intensified effort to combat drug cartels, many of which have been classified as foreign terrorist organizations by the Trump administration.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has responded to the increased military presence by deploying troops and militias, as well as urging Venezuelans to join the Bolivarian Militia. The Trump administration, in turn, has raised the bounty for Maduro’s capture to $50 million for his involvement in drug trafficking.
Amidst this escalating tension, the US conducted a lethal military strike on a suspected drug vessel associated with the Tren de Aragua gang earlier in the week. President Donald Trump confirmed that 11 individuals were killed in the strike that occurred in international waters.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio disclosed that the strike targeted a boat that had departed from Venezuela and took place in the Southern Caribbean. The situation remains fluid as the US and Venezuela navigate a precarious standoff. — CNN
