BREAKING

WAR ON THE HORIZON: American ships have set off for Venezuela, tens of thousands of soldiers mobilized!

by Serbian Times27. August 2025.27. August 2025.

American warships are approaching Venezuelan waters in the southern Caribbean as part of the Donald Trump administration’s efforts to intensify the fight against drug trafficking, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and France 24.

The Trump administration has accused President Nicolás Maduro of collaborating with drug cartels and trafficking cocaine. In early August, the U.S. doubled the reward for information leading to his arrest—from $25 million to $50 million, calling him one of the world’s biggest drug dealers.

In response, Maduro called on citizens to join the state police forces, stating: “No empire will touch the sacred soil of Venezuela.”

Deployment of U.S. Forces

According to Reuters, U.S. Aegis-class destroyers are already in the southern Caribbean, while the USS “Lake Erie,” a guided-missile cruiser, and the USS “Newport News,” a fast nuclear submarine, are on their way. They are expected to arrive early next week.

Three large ships have also been sent to the region—the USS San Antonio, the USS Iwo Jima, and the USS Fort Lauderdale, which are carrying around 4,500 U.S. troops, including 2,200 Marines.

Although the specific goals of the mission have not been announced, sources for Reuters claim that the operations are against so-called “narcoterrorist organizations” that Washington sees as a threat to national security.

Caracas Responds by Deploying the Army

Venezuelan authorities have announced that they are sending 15,000 soldiers to the border with Colombia to intensify the fight against drug smuggling. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino also announced the deployment of drones, as well as naval patrols along the Caribbean coast.

High-ranking official Diosdado Cabello stated that Caracas is fighting a war against the cartels “on all fronts.”

Official Positions

White House spokeswoman Carolina Levitt stated on August 19 that Trump is “very clear and consistent”:

“He is ready to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding our country and bring those responsible to justice.”

The U.S. still does not recognize Maduro’s government, while Maduro himself rejects Washington’s accusations and accuses the U.S. of ignoring its own problems with drug consumption.

The Venezuelan mission to the UN sent a letter condemning the “escalation of hostile actions and threats” and seeking guarantees that the U.S. “will not deploy or threaten to use nuclear weapons in the region.”