Tehran – The recent deployment of US military forces in waters off the coast of Venezuela has rekindled concerns over Washington’s long intervention and policy of administration change in Latin America and the Caribbean. The move claims the deployment is aimed at combating threats from local drug cartels.
Three American amphibious attack vessels carrying more than 4,000 sailors and Marines are scheduled to enter the area this week, citing defense officials who requested anonymity. The US Navy already operates two agency-guided missile destroyers in the Caribbean and USS Jason Dunham in the Caribbean, but the destroyer USS Sampson and cruiser USS Lake Ellie are located in waters off the coast of Latin America.
In response, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro mobilized troops along the country’s borders, urging citizens to join armed militias to protect the country. Maduro characterized the accumulation of US forces as an effort to overthrow the government, declaring Venezuela “the greatest preparation” to respond to the attack. He also warned that if US forces engage in Venezuela’s territory, it would constitutionally declare the “republic in arms” and at the same time he would accuse Secretary of State Marco Rubio of the “warlord” who promotes a change of government.
The Trump administration has long criticised Maduro for its drug trafficking and connections with criminal networks, but the US intelligence agency reportedly found no evidence linking him to Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua, weakening public claims by Trump and his allies. Earlier this year, the US doubled its pay to $50 million for information that led to Maduro’s arrest for alleged drug trafficking connections.
Promotions in US military activities in the Caribbean have prompted warnings from local journalists.
“On the surface, the deployment of US military forces in the Caribbean may seem to provide an additional layer of security, but this presence can attract unnecessary attention to our shores. For decades, the Caribbean has been largely considered a zone of peace.
A journalist at St. Lucian pointed out that the enduring stability of the Caribbean can only be achieved through diplomacy, not force.
“Ultimately, the only path to lasting stability in the region lies in a peaceful and diplomatic solution through international mediation, arbitration and binding agreements, which will strengthen the economic and other regions being intact.
This military deployment reflects decades of US intervention in Latin America and the Caribbean, including coups, invasions and sanctions against governments that resist its impact. Venezuela was a repeating goal. In May 2020, Venezuelan security forces arrested dozens, including two Americans, after a failed beach invasion aimed at defeating Maduro, the US-backed opposition leader Juan Guido, reportedly involved. Following the controversial 2018 presidential election in which Maduro was re-elected, the US and other countries have refused to recognize the outcome, labeling Guaido as interim president and imposed serious sanctions on Venezuela.
Former US national security adviser John Bolton provides further insight into his controversial memoir, the room in which it took place, revealing that debates about Venezuela’s administration’s change are ongoing at the Trump administration’s highest level. Bolton writes openly about the US efforts to drive out Maduro, describing Venezuela as a country that believes Washington can impose political will, highlighting the broader pattern of US hegemonic ambitions in the region.
The latest military deployment in the Caribbean highlights the continuation of this strategy. Using the pretext of fighting to combat organized crime, it emphasizes signaling Latin American countries that the US is highly influenced. The move raises urgent questions about the region’s future stability and limitations of diplomatic approaches as it deals with Venezuela’s ongoing political crisis.