Background on Key Figures and Context
The world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, has joined a US-led operation targeting drug trafficking originating from Latin America. Venezuela claims that this operation aims to overthrow President Nicolás Maduro.
Nicolás Maduro, the embattled President of Venezuela, has been accused by the US administration under Donald Trump of leading a drug trafficking cartel. This allegation has led to the authorization of covert CIA operations in Venezuela.
Recent Developments and Responses
The USS Gerald Ford’s arrival in the region coincides with Venezuela’s recent military deployment to counter what it perceives as US imperial threats. Venezuela claims these actions are in response to alleged illegal bombings of drug-carrying vessels.
- On Sunday, the US conducted another attack in the Pacific, resulting in six deaths aboard two suspected drug trafficking vessels.
- So far, 20 vessels have been targeted with at least 76 fatalities reported.
- Since September, the US has deployed warships, fighter jets, and thousands of troops in the Caribbean for these anti-drug trafficking operations, purportedly linked to Venezuela and Colombia.
The US Navy’s Southern Command stated that the USS Gerald Ford, deployed nearly three weeks ago, entered its area of responsibility, covering Latin America and the Caribbean. According to Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesperson, this move will “enhance US capabilities to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities threatening US security and our Western Hemisphere security.”
Despite these claims, the US has yet to provide concrete evidence linking the targeted vessels to drug trafficking or posing a threat to the country.
The UK’s decision not to share intelligence on suspected drug trafficking vessels with the US to avoid complicity in allegedly illegal bombings marks a significant rift between two key allies, as reported by CNN.
Russia, a staunch Western rival and key ally of Maduro, has condemned these bombings as “unacceptable.” Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, described such actions as those typically taken by “lawless countries” and dismissed the US anti-drug efforts as a pretext for these attacks.
“Massive Deployment” of Venezuelan Military
In response to perceived US threats, Venezuela initiated a nationwide military exercise early Tuesday morning. The government announced a “massive deployment” of land, air, naval, riverine, and missile forces.
State television VTV broadcast images of armed soldiers, while Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino claimed 200,000 personnel participated in the exercise. However, visible military activity was limited in major cities like Caracas.
These announcements are common and widely publicized by the Venezuelan government, though they may not always translate into noticeable on-ground operations.
“Venezuela should know it is being safeguarded, protected, and defended,” Padrino stated, accusing US military personnel of being “mercenaries.” He questioned the legality of the bombings, asserting that those killed were “defenceless” and denied due process.
Maduro warned on Monday that his structure possesses “strength and power” to counter the US. He has called for enrollment in the Bolivarian Militia, a civilian-based force with strong ideological underpinnings.
“Should imperialism attempt to intervene and cause harm, from the moment operations are ordered, there would be mobilization and combat by all of Venezuela’s people,” Maduro declared.
