Why did Trump send U.S. Navy destroyers near Venezuela?
President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of three U.S. Navy Aegis-class guided-missile destroyers—the USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, and USS Sampson—to waters off Venezuela. According to U.S. defense officials, the move is part of a broader counter-narcotics strategy targeting Latin American drug cartels, which Washington blames for fueling the fentanyl crisis and other illicit drug flows into American cities.
A Defense Department official confirmed that the ships will remain in the region for “several months” as part of the operation. Trump has repeatedly argued that the U.S. military should play a greater role in disrupting cartel networks, even pressing Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum to expand security cooperation—an idea she rejected, citing national sovereignty.
The deployment comes amid sharpening tensions with Venezuela, after Washington placed a $50 million bounty on President Nicolás Maduro. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi accused Maduro of collaborating with criminal organizations—including the Tren de Aragua and Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel—to smuggle narcotics and weapons. She claimed DEA operations had seized around 30 tons of cocaine linked to Maduro’s regime, with at least seven tons directly tied to him.
Caracas has condemned Trump’s actions as a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino announced a “significant” military response, deploying drones, warships, and additional patrols along the country’s coastline. Venezuela has also appealed to the United Nations, demanding the “immediate cessation” of U.S. military activity in the Caribbean.
This standoff illustrates the growing clash between Washington’s hardline anti-narcotics push and Venezuela’s efforts to rally international support against what it calls U.S. “aggression.” With both sides escalating militarily, the situation is likely to remain tense in the months ahead.
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