US Deploys Warships Near Venezuela Amid Regional Tensions

The United States has deployed three Aegis guided-missile destroyers and approximately 4,000 personnel near Venezuela as part of President Trump's intensified campaign against Latin American drug cartels, designating groups like Venezuela's Tren de Aragua as foreign terrorist organizations. This move has been met with strong opposition from Venezuela, whose President Nicolás Maduro mobilized millions of militia members and condemned the U.S. actions as threats to regional peace and sovereignty. China has also criticized the U.S. military buildup, backing Maduro and urging respect for national sovereignty and non-interference. Regional leaders in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia have expressed concern about potential destabilization and reaffirmed principles of non-intervention. The U.S. State Department has doubled the reward for Maduro's capture, labeling him a narco-terrorist, while some analysts question the strategic logic of the deployment given that most cocaine enters the U.S. through other routes. These developments come amid broader U.S.-South America defense discussions focused on collaboration against shared security threats, including transnational crime.