US Expands Military Presence in Caribbean Amid Venezuela Tensions

The U.S. has significantly increased its military presence in the Caribbean, deploying warships, aircraft, and a nuclear submarine near Venezuela amid heightened tensions and operations targeting drug trafficking vessels. President Donald Trump's administration has labeled Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as an "illegitimate leader" and accused him of leading a transnational criminal gang, escalating threats of potential land strikes and covert operations authorized by the CIA. This military buildup includes the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and other naval assets, with Pentagon officials signaling a possible kinetic action, contributing to fears of an imminent conflict. Venezuelan officials, including Maduro, condemn these actions as imperialist aggression and violations of sovereignty, while Venezuelans strive to maintain normalcy amid the crisis. Experts suggest that the U.S. aims to intimidate Maduro and his regime to incite fractures that could favor opposition forces. The situation remains fluid, with international observers and regional actors closely monitoring the military escalation and political rhetoric between the two countries.