Mutual Tensions Between America and Venezuela.. Military Reinforcements

SadaNews - U.S. President Donald Trump refrained from confirming or denying the possibility of military strikes on targets inside Venezuela, simply responding to a reporter’s question while en route to the U.S. Open tennis championship in New York with the phrase: "You will find out."

This comes amid rising tensions between the two countries, as the United States has sent a large naval force to the southern Caribbean, including missile destroyers, a nuclear submarine, and reconnaissance aircraft, in addition to plans to deploy 10 F-35 fighter jets in Puerto Rico, while the aircraft carrier USS Iwo Jima awaits to sail to the region.

In light of these movements, Trump vowed to shoot down any Venezuelan aircraft that poses a threat to U.S. forces, affirming that this step is part of Washington's efforts to combat drug trafficking networks following the targeting of a boat alleged to have been smuggling drugs, resulting in the death of 11 people.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that these operations reflect the readiness of the U.S. military to support this shift in the region.

For his part, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro considered the U.S. military buildup a pretext for overthrowing his regime and announced a general mobilization of the army in preparation for any potential war.

Maduro warned that any attack would immediately lead the country into a stage of "armed struggle," showcasing his country's military capabilities, which include about 340,000 regular soldiers and more than 8 million potential reservists.

The heightened tension in the region goes beyond drug-related issues, as the United States sees the goal as confronting what it describes as "drug-related terrorist groups," while Venezuela considers these actions a direct assault on its sovereignty and a threat to its national security.

Washington has previously announced that it has doubled the reward for capturing Maduro to $50 million, while the latter condemned the U.S. military reinforcements, describing them as "the greatest threat our continent has witnessed in the past hundred years."

Tensions between Washington and Caracas continue to escalate, amidst military preparations and rising threats, increasing the risks of an open confrontation between the two countries in the Caribbean region.