Venezuela launches massive military deployment as US aircraft carrier arrives in Latin America, escalating tensions and sparking regime change concerns
CARACAS: The arrival of a US aircraft carrier strike group in Latin America has intensified fears in Venezuela of a potential military confrontation.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, entered the US Naval Forces Southern Command’s area of operations on Tuesday.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated the deployment aims to bolster US capacity to detect and disrupt illicit activities in the Western Hemisphere.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused the Trump administration of fabricating a war and warned his country is ready for armed struggle.
“If we as a republic, as a people, go into an armed struggle in order to defend the sacred legacy of the liberators, we’re ready to win,” Maduro said.
The US military buildup includes F-35 stealth warplanes in Puerto Rico and six Navy ships in the Caribbean.
Caracas views the deployment as a disguised regime change plot and announced its own massive military mobilization.
Venezuela’s defense ministry described deploying land, sea, air, river and missile forces plus civilian militia against imperial threats.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said 200,000 troops participated in exercises, though no activity was visible in Caracas.
US forces have conducted strikes on approximately 20 vessels in international waters since early September, killing at least 76 people.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro suspended intelligence sharing with Washington in protest of the missile attacks.
Russia denounced US strikes on Venezuelan boats as unacceptable, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov questioning the anti-drug pretext.
The United Kingdom declined to comment on reports it stopped sharing intelligence about suspected drug-smuggling vessels with the US.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the US remains Britain’s closest defense and security partner.
Experts told AFP that Venezuela’s ill-disciplined military and outdated arsenal would face serious disadvantages against US forces.
Maduro’s government relies heavily on Moscow for political and economic support amid escalating tensions.
President Trump previously downplayed war prospects but said Maduro’s days were numbered, accusing him of drug trafficking.
The Trump administration describes Latin American drug cartels as terrorist groups engaged in armed conflict with the United States.
Human rights experts say the US vessel strikes amount to extrajudicial killings without due process.
Washington has not provided evidence that the targeted vessels were used for drug smuggling. – AFP
