US President Donald Trump is sending three Aegis-class guided missile destroyers to waters off Venezuela as part of an intensified effort to curb drug trafficking, AFP reported on Wednesday, quoting sources speaking on condition of anonymity.
The deployment comes as the Trump administration increases pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Earlier this month, Washington doubled its bounty on Maduro to $50 million over drug-related charges.
US-Venezuela Rift Explained
US media reports suggest that Washington is also planning to deploy 4,000 Marines to the region, although officials have not confirmed specific timelines.
The United States does not recognize Maduro’s past two election victories and has accused him of leading the Venezuela-based cocaine trafficking organization, the Cartel de los Soles (“Cartel of the Suns”).
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In a major escalation, the US Department of the Treasury designated the Cartel de los Soles as a global terrorist organization last month. According to the Treasury, the cartel supports the Venezuelan crime group Tren de Aragua and Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartels, which were previously designated as foreign terrorist organizations earlier this year.
What Is White House Saying About Venezuela And President Nicolas Maduro?
Speaking on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized Trump’s commitment to combating drug trafficking.
“President Trump has been very clear and consistent, he’s prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice,” Leavitt said.
She further described the Venezuelan government as a “narco-terror cartel.”
“And Maduro, it is the view of this administration, is not a legitimate president; he is a fugitive head of this cartel who has been indicted in the United States for trafficking drugs into this country,” Leavitt added.
How Maduro Mobilizes Reacted
In response to US actions, Maduro announced on Monday that he would deploy 4.5 million militia members across Venezuela.
“This week, I will activate a special plan with more than 4.5 million militiamen to ensure coverage of the entire national territory – militias that are prepared, activated, and armed,” Maduro said in a televised address.
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
