United States Deploys Warships Near Venezuela

(Patria) - Three US Aegis guided-missile destroyers will arrive off the coast of Venezuela within the next 36 hours as part of efforts to address threats from Latin American drug cartels, two sources familiar with the matter said on Monday, Reuters reported.

President Donald Trump wanted to use the military to combat Latin American drug gangs designated as global terrorist organizations.

The sources said the ships are USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, and USS Sampson.
Another US official told Reuters that a total of about 4,000 sailors and Marines are expected to be involved in the Trump administration's efforts in the southern Caribbean region.

That official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the additional deployment of military assets in the broader region would include several P-8 spy planes, warships, and at least one attack submarine.

The official said the process would take several months and that the plan is to operate in international airspace and international waters. Naval assets can be used not only for intelligence and surveillance operations but also as a springboard for targeted strikes if a decision is made, the official added.

Venezuela's communications ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Without mentioning the warships, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said in a speech on Monday that Venezuela would "defend our seas, our sky, and our land."

He alluded to what he called an "unusual, bizarre threat from a decaying empire."

Trump has made cracking down on drug cartels a central goal of his administration as part of broader efforts to curb migration and secure the US southern border.

The Trump administration has already deployed at least two warships in recent months to assist with border security and drug trafficking efforts.

The Trump administration in February designated Mexico's Sinaloa cartel and other drug gangs, as well as the Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua, as global terrorist organizations, while stepping up enforcement of immigration laws against alleged gang members.

The US military is increasing aerial surveillance of Mexican drug cartels to gather intelligence and determine how best to curb their activities.