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The United States has amassed a significant naval and air presence in the Caribbean, officially described by the Trump administration as a large-scale counter-narcotics operation. The deployment includes an aircraft carrier strike group, F-35 stealth fighters, submarines, and multiple warships, creating what sources describe as a military force unseen in the region for decades. The move has intensified speculation and fear in Caracas that the operation’s true goal is to facilitate a military intervention aimed at regime change.
The powerful flotilla, which includes the USS Gerald R. Ford and the guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely, is conducting operations near Venezuela's coast. This show of force has been interpreted by many observers as a direct message to Nicolás Maduro’s government. However, the White House has sent conflicting signals regarding its immediate intentions.
On Friday, President Donald Trump publicly stated he is not considering strikes inside the South American nation. When asked by reporters aboard Air Force One if he was contemplating such action, he responded with a simple "No." This denial followed a week of heightened tensions and media reports suggesting that strikes against drug-related targets within Venezuela were imminent.
Despite the president's latest statement, the administration's stance remains ambiguous. According to a report from The Hindu, Trump had said in previous weeks that his government would carry out strikes against drug targets inside Venezuela, a position that directly contradicts his most recent denial. This inconsistency has done little to calm anxieties in the region. While the U.S. flexes its military power near Venezuela's shores, the ultimate purpose of the massive deployment remains a subject of intense international debate, leaving allies and adversaries alike uncertain of Washington's next move.
