The Pentagon confirmed that two Venezuelan military planes approached a US Navy vessel in international waters on Thursday, describing the incident as a “highly provocative” action that escalates the ongoing tensions surrounding the United States’ Caribbean military deployments. Through X, the Defense Department warned the Venezuelan government, which it refers to as a cartel, that it should refrain from attempts to obstruct or interfere with US military operations aimed at counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism.
This heightened tension comes as the United States reinforces its naval presence in the southern Caribbean amid rising hostilities between US President Donald Trump and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who has been accused by Washington of leading a drug cartel. The situation intensified earlier in the week when US forces reportedly destroyed a vessel linked to drug smuggling, allegedly operated by the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua. Trump indicated that the action resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals.
During a visit to Latin America, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the US’s more aggressive stance, emphasizing collaboration with regional partners in the fight against drug-trafficking organizations. In a joint appearance with Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld, Rubio asserted the necessity of forceful measures, stating, “Now, they’re going to help us find these people and blow them up if that’s what it takes.”
Rubio also addressed the situation in Mexico, where he reinforced that Venezuelan entities, including the Tren de Aragua and the Cartel de los Soles, have been designated as “narcoterrorist organizations.” He made a stark distinction, saying, “These are not stockbrokers. These are not real estate agents who on the side deal a few drugs.”
As tensions escalate, Caracas has accused the US of committing extrajudicial killings during the recent attack, claiming that the rights of those killed were violated without due process. The US’s new approach marks a significant shift from its long-standing reliance on traditional policing methods for drug interdiction, raising serious ethical concerns.
In response to the heightened military activity by the US, President Maduro has mobilized Venezuela’s armed forces, estimated to number around 340,000, and claims an additional eight million reservists. He characterized the US actions as “the greatest threat our continent has seen in the last 100 years,” warning that any attack on Venezuela would ignite an “armed struggle” within the country.
