US Deploys Warships, Venezuela Sends Troops Caribbean Drug Cartel Fight

The Trump administration is escalating its military presence in the southern Caribbean by deploying additional naval vessels, including the USS Lake Erie guided missile cruiser and the USS Newport News nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, to counter Latin American drug cartels designated as "narco-terrorist" groups. These deployments follow earlier arrivals of ships such as the USS San Antonio, USS Iwo Jima, and USS Fort Lauderdale carrying more than 4,500 troops, including 2,200 Marines, reflecting a broader effort to safeguard U.S. national security against narcotics trafficking. President Trump has framed the drug cartels as a major national security threat and has previously offered a $50 million reward for the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, accusing him of collaborating with traffickers. In response to U.S. naval movements, Venezuela is deploying vessels and 15,000 troops to key areas near the Colombia border and vital oil-exporting ports, signaling heightened regional tensions. U.S. officials emphasize the military presence targets drug cartels rather than Venezuela itself, while Venezuelan authorities assert their own commitment to combating narcotics trafficking. This military buildup underscores the ongoing confrontation in the southern Caribbean amid concerns over drug flow and regional security.