U.S. sends warships near Venezuela, escalating tensions

[concrete wall with painted united states and venezuela flags]
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The U.S. is expanding it naval presence in the Southern Caribbean near Venezuela's territorial waters, with the aim of addressing threats from Latin American drug cartels.

Seven U.S. warships and a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine are either in the area or are expected to arrive in the coming week, a U.S. official told [https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-venezuela-tensions-rise-us-warships-arrive-southern-caribbean-2025-08-28/] _Reuters_. This buildup is significantly bigger than usual U.S. deployments in the region.

The Pentagon has not yet disclosed what the mission will be, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously said that the U.S. government could use the military to go after Latin American drug cartels.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro denounced the naval buildup, saying there's "no way" that the U.S. can enter Venezuela. "Today, we are more prepared to defend peace, sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Venezuela announced the deployment of 15,000 troops to its border with Colombia. Its government also called on citizens to join a volunteer militia to assist armed forces in response to the threat of a U.S. invasion.

"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," Samuel Moncada, Venezuela's UN ambassador, said. "… it's ridiculous to think that they're fighting drug trafficking with nuclear submarines."

The U.S. is offering a $50M reward [https://www.state.gov/nicolas-maduro-moros] for information that would lead to Maduro's arrest. "Maduro helped manage and ultimately lead the Cartel of the Suns, a Venezuelan drug-trafficking organization comprised of high-ranking Venezuelan officials," the State Department has alleged. Washington designated the cartel as a terrorist group.

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