Pentagon deploys warships to Latin America, escalating tensions with Venezuela

The United States has deployed a significant naval force to waters surrounding Central and South America, raising regional tensions and provoking a sharp response from Venezuela.

At least seven US Navy vessels, including three guided-missile destroyers, an amphibious assault ship, a guided-missile cruiser, and a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, have been sent to the region, sources familiar with the mission said, Financial Times reports.

The Trump administration has framed the move as part of a crackdown on drug trafficking. “Trump [is] prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who also labeled Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro “not a legitimate president” and “a fugitive head of this cartel." 

The Pentagon emphasized the need for a “whole-of-government effort and coordination with regional partners” to counter narcotics. “Trump was seeking to eliminate the ability of these cartels to threaten the [US’] territory, safety, and security,” said Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, who declined to comment on future operations.

Analysts, however, suggest the military scale exceeds typical anti-drug missions. “This is a force whose nature and size is not consistent with counter-drug operations,” said Evan Ellis, a former adviser to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. “The logical mission would be a snatch-and-grab operation to bring Maduro to justice,” he added, though he noted uncertainty about Trump’s willingness to proceed.

Among the vessels deployed are the USS Jason Dunham and USS Gravely off Venezuela’s coast, and the USS Sampson south of Panama. The USS Iwo Jima and two support ships, carrying 4,500 troops, are also en route. The USS Lake Erie and USS Newport News, a nuclear submarine, round out the fleet. Five of the ships are equipped with Tomahawk missiles.

In response, Maduro has called up 4.5 million militia members. “We bow to no one — not today, not ever,” he declared. Venezuela’s defence minister also announced a naval deployment near the country’s key oil hub.

Neighboring nations remain divided, with Guyana and Trinidad endorsing the US presence, while Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro warned, “It is false that we want to unite the Colombian and Venezuelan armies.”

By Vafa Guliyeva