Venezuela mobilises military as US presence grows

Venezuela has announced a large-scale mobilisation of its armed forces in reaction to what it describes as a growing “imperialist threat” from the United States following a significant build-up of US warships in the Caribbean Sea, reports CNN.

Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López stated on November 12 that Venezuela’s land, air, naval, and reserve forces would conduct extensive exercises under the direct orders of President Nicolás Maduro.

The move comes amid escalating tensions between Caracas and Washington. The United States recently announced the arrival of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, America’s largest warship, in the US Southern Command area of operations, which encompasses most of Latin America.

The Ford’s strike group includes nine air squadrons, two guided-missile destroyers, the USS Bainbridge and USS Mahan, the command ship USS Winston S. Churchill, and more than 4,000 sailors.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the carrier to move from Europe to the Caribbean at the end of October. Washington has justified its increased military presence as part of efforts to combat what it calls “narco-terrorists”, conducting several strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels in recent weeks.

Caracas, however, has accused the US of seeking to provoke regime change. Reports indicate that senior Trump administration officials have privately acknowledged that their strategy targets the removal of Maduro.

In October, former President Donald Trump confirmed that he had authorized CIA operations in Venezuela and had considered potential strikes, though officials later denied any active plans for military action.

The Trump administrations conduct in the Caribbean has fractured the United states relations with other Latin American countries. Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro on November 11 ordered his government to stop sharing intelligence with the U.S. He said the directive would “remain in force as long as the missile attacks on boats in the Caribbean continue.”

US bombers have also conducted several training missions near Venezuela’s coast, including an “attack demonstration” in late October.

CNN, CBS News, Maghrebi.org, MSN