The U.S. military has deployed warships and thousands of Marines to Venezuela as part of a renewed effort to combat drug trafficking. The operation includes Aegis guided-missile destroyers like the USS Gravely and USS Jason Dunham, along with spy planes, warships, and a submarine to cover international waters and skies. This mission marks a significant escalation in Trump’s campaign to block the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the United States, which has fueled an overdose crisis.
The Trump administration has labeled Venezuela’s regime a ‘narco-terror cartel’ and has demanded that President Nicolas Maduro be held accountable. Attorney General Pam Bondi has announced a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest, marking a substantial increase from previous offers. The Justice Department has already seized over $700 million in assets linked to Maduro, including two private jets and nine luxury vehicles.
Maduro, who was indicted in New York in 2020 on narco-terrorism and cocaine importation charges, has maintained power with military support and is alleged to receive backing from Russia, China, and Cuba. In a televised address, Maduro derided U.S. pressure as an ‘outlandish, bizarre threat of a declining empire,’ vowing Venezuela would ‘defend our seas, our skies and our lands.’
Previously, the Pentagon had deployed two warships to the region to deter drug trafficking and secure the border. Immigration enforcement has also been strengthened against alleged gang members such as Tren de Aragua, MS-13 in El Salvador, and six groups in Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has been urged by Trump to cooperate further on security and clamp down on cartels, though she has so far rejected suggestions of military intervention.
These measures are part of Trump’s broader strategy to combat foreign terrorist organizations and has led to the designation of several groups as such. The deployment is seen as a critical step in the U.S. effort to disrupt drug supply chains and protect its borders from the increasing threat of drug-related violence and illicit trade.