U.S. steps up tensions with Venezuela under pretext of combating drugs

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (YPA) – The American aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford has joined U.S. forces operating in the Caribbean, raising tensions with Venezuela.

The United States announced on Sunday the arrival of the most advanced aircraft carrier in its Navy to the Caribbean Sea, officially as part of alleged anti-drug operations.

A statement by the U.S. Southern Command (Southcom), which covers Latin America and the Caribbean, clarified the location of the aircraft carrier after a Tuesday announcement confirmed that it had entered the command’s area of responsibility that day.

For its part, Venezuela accused the United States of hiding behind drug-fighting claims, but its real purpose is to overthrow President Nicolás Maduro’s regime.

Earlier this month, Maduro said that the United States was planning to control his country’s natural wealth, stressing that U.S. military movements in the Caribbean aimed at plundering, not combating drugs.” The USS Gerald R. Ford is the most advanced aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy and carries four squadrons of fighter jets, accompanied by three missile-launching destroyers. A statement from the Southern Command explained that the aircraft carrier group “will join the forces already in the Caribbean Sea,” including an amphibious group and a Marine unit.

Since August, Washington has been deploying significant military capabilities in the Caribbean, including six warships, with the stated aim of combating drug trafficking to the United States.

Over the past weeks, Washington has launched strikes in international waters targeting around 20 boats it claims are used for drug trafficking, resulting in the deaths of at least 76 people, according to U.S. data. Washington has not provided any evidence that these boats were being used for drug trafficking. Trump authorized covert CIA operations in Venezuela and gave contradictory indications about his strategy, sometimes speaking of strikes on Venezuelan territory and that Maduro’s days were numbered, but he also ruled out the idea of war.

On Tuesday, Venezuela announced that its army was deployed ‘densely’ across the country in response to ‘American imperialism’.

AA