The United States sent the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford to the Caribbean Sea, officially for anti-narcotics operations, but the move comes amid an escalation in tensions with Venezuela. The ship, the most advanced in the American Navy, joins other warships already deployed in the region since August.
The United States announced this Sunday the arrival in the Caribbean Sea of its aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford, officially as part of operations to combat drug trafficking, but which occurs amidst an escalation of tensions with Venezuela.
O USS Gerald Fordthe most advanced aircraft carrier in the United States Navy, carries notably four squadrons of combat aircraft and is accompanied by three missile-launching cruisersnow under North American command for Latin America and the Caribbean, Southcom.
Or naval air group “will join its forces to those already present in the Caribbean Sea”including an amphibious group and an embarked Marine unit, Southcom detailed in a statement.
Since August, Washington maintains an important military presence in the Caribbeanhighlighting half a dozen warships, officially for combat drug trafficking bound for the United States.
In recent weeks, the United States has carried out around 20 air strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific against vessels who accuse, without presenting evidence, of transporting drugs, causing a total of 76 victims.
Tensions rise between Maduro and Trump
Venezuela accuses Washington of using the pretext of drug trafficking “to impose regime change” in Caracas and seize its oil.
Donald Trump, who authorized secret CIA operations in Venezuela, gave contradictory indications about his strategy, at times mentioning attacks on Venezuelan soil and warning about days numbered for President Nicolás Madurobut also removing the idea of war.
The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, on Tuesday denied allegations that Venezuela had requested military assistance from Moscow following the escalation of tensions with the United States, but the two countries which came into force on Wednesday, after the Russian parliament urged the international community to condemn the “provocative actions of the United States” against Venezuela.
