US Military preparations forVenezuela

The United States has significantly increased its military presence near Venezuela in late August and early September 2025, deploying naval assets to combat drug trafficking and counter alleged narco-terrorism under President Donald Trump’s directives On August 18, three U.S. Navy warships—USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, and USS Sampson—along with approximately 4,000 military personnel, were sent to the Caribbean and waters off Venezuela’s coast This force has since expanded to include additional warships, P-8 surveillance aircraft, an attack submarine, and three amphibious assault ships carrying over 4,000 sailors and Marines

The U.S. government claims these deployments are part of a broader campaign to disrupt drug cartels, particularly the Venezuelan-linked Tren de Aragua, which was designated a foreign terrorist organization in February 2025 The Trump administration has also doubled the reward for information leading to the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro from $25 million to $50 million, accusing him of leading a “narco-terror cartel” Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the seizure of $700 million in assets linked to Maduro, including luxury goods and private jets

While the U.S. has not signaled plans for a land invasion, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that President Trump is “prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice,” declining to rule out military strikes On September 3, two Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets conducted a flyover near a U.S. destroyer, which the Pentagon condemned as “highly provocative,” warning against interference with counter-narcotics missions

In response, Venezuela has declared “maximum preparedness” for defense President Maduro announced the activation of over 4.5 million members of the Bolivarian Militia—a civilian defense force established in 2005—to guard factories, workplaces, and national territory He characterized the U.S. naval deployment as an “extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal and bloody threat” and warned that military action would “stain Trump’s hands with blood” Maduro also stated he would declare a “republic in arms” if Venezuela were attacked, though he did not elaborate on what that would entail

Venezuela has deployed more than 15,000 troops along its coast and border with Colombia and temporarily banned drone operations in its airspace, citing past assassination attempts The Venezuelan government rejects U.S. allegations, calling them a “false narrative” designed to justify regime change, and insists that most cocaine trafficking from Colombia occurs via the Pacific, not Venezuela

Analysts and officials note that while tensions are high, there is no indication of an imminent U.S. invasion, and the current operations remain focused on interdiction and deterrence within international waters and airspace

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