Venezuela Deploys 15,000 Troops to Colombia Border Amid US Tensions

Venezuela has deployed 15,000 military and police personnel to its border with Colombia amid rising tensions with the United States, which accuses President Nicolas Maduro of leading a drug-trafficking network known as the 'Cartel of the Suns.' Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced the deployment, which includes troops, aviation units, riverine patrols, and drones, focusing primarily on the border states of Zulia and Tachira. Cabello rejected U.S. allegations, calling them a political excuse, and accused opposition figures of being linked to criminal groups instead. Colombian President Gustavo Petro defended Maduro, denying the existence of the cartel and emphasizing the political motivations behind the accusations. The U.S. has increased military presence near Venezuela with additional Navy vessels conducting anti-narcotics operations, leading to sharp criticism from U.S. lawmakers who warned Petro against cooperating with Maduro's regime. The situation underscores escalating regional tensions involving security, drug trafficking accusations, and geopolitical rivalries.