Another war is about to start? Is Donald Trump planning Russia-like invasion into Venezuela?

Tensions between the United States and Venezuela are rising amid a large U.S. naval buildup in the Southern Caribbean and nearby waters, which U.S. officials say aims to address threats from Latin American drug cartels. Washington has dispatched five warships and thousands of Marines toward the Caribbean country for what was labeled an anti-drug operation, though Caracas fears there is more to the deployment. The United States does not recognize President Nicolas Maduro's 2024 reelection to a third term in what which was rejected by the opposition and much of the rest of the world as a stolen vote.


Venezuela Fears Regime Change



Maduro accuses Washington of seeking regime change. Venezuela has deployed warships and drones to patrol its coastline and Maduro said he would activate 4.5 million militia members -- a number questioned by observers -- to confront "any threat."

President Maduro has urged civilians to join the Venezuelan militia -- a civilian backup to the standing army -- as he warns of a "threat" from the United States.

Maduro's government regularly accuses the opposition and foreigners of conspiring with U.S. entities such as the CIA to harm Venezuela, accusations the opposition and the U.S. have always denied. It characterizes sanctions as "economic war."

Venezuela on Thursday complained to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about the U.S. naval buildup, accusing Washington of violating the founding U.N. Charter. "It's a massive propaganda operation to justify what the experts call kinetic action - meaning military intervention in a country which is a sovereign and independent country and is no threat to anyone," Venezuela's U.N. Ambassador Samuel Moncada told reporters after meeting with Guterres.

Venezuela Banks on AI

Venezuela has breathed new life into independence hero Simon Bolivar and other long-dead historical figures, using their artificial intelligence avatars to drum up military reservists in view of a feared US invasion.

Along with Bolivar, independence-era military hero Francisco de Miranda, 20th century novelist Romulo Gallegos and poet Andres Eloy Blanco address Venezuelans on social media or on state TV as part of the "I enlist" campaign.

USA Pushes Against Drug Cartels

U.S. President Donald Trump has made cracking down on drug cartels a central goal of his administration, part of a wider effort to limit migration and secure the U.S. southern border. While U.S. Coast Guard and Navy ships regularly operate in the Southern Caribbean, this buildup is significantly larger than usual deployments in the region.

A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said on Thursday that seven U.S. warships, along with one nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, were either in the region or were expected to be there in the coming week. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has denounced the moves. The Pentagon has not indicated publicly what exactly the U.S. mission will be, but the Trump administration has said it can now use the military to go after drug cartels and criminal groups and has directed the Pentagon to prepare options.

On Thursday, the White House said Trump was ready to use "every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country."

"Many Caribbean nations and many nations in the region have applauded the administration's counter drug operations and efforts," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

The Trump administration designated Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel and other drug gangs, as well as the Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua, as global terrorist organizations in February. Part of the buildup is the USS San Antonio, USS Iwo Jima, and USS Fort Lauderdale. The ships are carrying 4,500 service members, including 2,200 Marines, sources have told Reuters.

The U.S. military has also been flying P-8 spy planes in the region to gather intelligence, officials have said, though they have operated in international waters.

FAQs

Q1. Who is President of Venezuela?
A1. President of Venezuela is Nicolas Maduro.

Q2. What is Donald Trump administration's stand against drug cartels?
A2. The Trump administration designated Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel and other drug gangs, as well as the Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua, as global terrorist organizations in February.