Three Aegis guided-missile destroyers have been deployed to the waters off the coast of Venezuela as President Donald Trump attempts to combat the threat from the Latin American drug cartels.
A U.S. official briefed on the plan told the Associated Press that the USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, and USS Sampson are expected to arrive in the area “soon.” The official, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, refused to comment further.
A Defense Department official confirmed that the military assets have been assigned to the region in support of counter-narcotics efforts. The same official stated the vessels would be deployed “over the course of several months.” The Express U.S. reached out to the White House for additional comment.
President Trump’s deployment of the destroyers and personnel comes after repeatedly pushing for the U.S. military to thwart cartels, which he blames for the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into American communities and for perpetuating violence in some U.S. cities.
It was also reported that President Trump had attempted to press Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to cooperate more on security than her predecessor; however, Sheinbaum reminded Trump of Mexico’s sovereignty and rejected Trump’s suggestions.
Venezuela Vengence
Trump’s show of strength comes after Venezuela issued a stern warning to the president for placing a whopping $50 million (£37m) bounty on President Nicolás Maduro’s head. Attorney General Pam Bondi accused Maduro of collaborating with criminal gangs to illicitly smuggle weapons and narcotics across American borders.
Earlier this month, she stated: “Maduro uses foreign terrorist organisations like [Tren de Aragua], Sinaloa and Cartel of the Suns to bring deadly drugs and violence into our country.” The DEA seized approximately 30 tons of cocaine linked to the Venezuelan leader, according to Bondi.
Bondi directly connected at least seven tons to Maduro, alleging it is a significant source of revenue for major criminal organizations throughout South America and Mexico. Venezuela has responded by deploying a “significant” military presence, including drones and warships, along its coast.
In a video that surfaced on social media, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino announced the deployment, which will also include “larger vessels further north in our territorial waters.” Caracas and its allies view these patrols as a direct threat to Venezuela’s sovereignty. On Tuesday, Venezuela appealed to the United Nations to resolve the dispute, demanding “the immediate cessation of the US military deployment in the Caribbean.”
