This incident follows a recent U.S. military strike that targeted a boat alleged to be involved in drug trafficking activities linked to Venezuela. The strike, which resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals, drew sharp condemnation from Caracas, claiming the operation was extrajudicial and violated due process.
Amid these rising tensions, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of being a "narco-terrorist" and a fugitive from American justice. Rubio stated this while visiting Ecuador and emphasized that U.S. efforts will go beyond intercepting small drug-running vessels, signaling a broader campaign against narcotics groups operating in the region.
In response to the heightened U.S. military presence and rhetoric, Maduro declared that Venezuela is ready for "armed struggle" to defend its territory if attacked by the United States. The Venezuelan armed forces number about 340,000 personnel and have a diverse array of equipment, including U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets acquired in the 1980s, as well as tanks, submarines, and frigates from European countries.
During a past oil boom, former Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez invested billions in weaponry from Russia, acquiring fighter jets, helicopters, missile systems, and other military hardware estimated at $11 billion between 2006 and 2011.
The current U.S. naval deployment in the southern Caribbean comes amidst escalating tensions between the governments of Donald Trump and Nicolás Maduro. Venezuela has appealed to the United Nations over what it describes as U.S. threats to its sovereignty.
0 Comments