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Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro decorates a member of the special forces during a ceremony in Caracas, Venezuela, on Thursday
Caracas, Venezuela — In a dramatic escalation of military readiness, Venezuela has announced the deployment of 25,000 troops to its coastal and border states in response to what it calls “aggressive posturing” by the United States. The move follows the arrival of American warships in the Southern Caribbean, part of a U.S. operation aimed at countering drug cartels.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López confirmed Sunday that President Nicolás Maduro ordered the mobilization of “all available” personnel and equipment to Zulia, Falcón, Nueva Esparta, Sucre, and Delta Amacuro—regions identified as key trafficking corridors. The deployment marks a sharp increase from the 10,000 troops previously stationed in those areas.
The announcement comes just weeks after Venezuela sent 15,000 troops to its border with Colombia, citing similar anti-narcotics objectives.
U.S. Military Buildup and Naval Incidents
The U.S. has deployed three warships and approximately 4,000 troops to the Caribbean, framing the operation as part of a broader crackdown on transnational drug trafficking. Tensions spiked last week when the U.S. Navy sank a vessel it claimed was transporting narcotics from Venezuela, killing 11 people onboard. In response, two Venezuelan fighter jets conducted a flyover of a U.S. destroyer.
President Donald Trump warned that any Venezuelan aircraft posing a threat to American forces “will be shot down,” intensifying fears of direct confrontation.
Regime Change Accusations and Diplomatic Strain
While Washington insists its operations are focused on narcotics interdiction, Maduro has accused the U.S. of pursuing regime change. He called for dialogue, expressed respect for Trump, and vowed to declare Venezuela a “republic in arms” if attacked.
Trump, for his part, denied seeking regime change but questioned Maduro’s legitimacy. He cited the devastating toll of drug-related deaths in the U.S. as justification for expanded military activity in the region.
The U.S. government is currently offering a $50 million bounty for information leading to Maduro’s arrest, alleging ties to organized crime and narcoterrorism. Maduro has repeatedly denied the accusations.
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