(Washington, D.C.) The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, the U.S. Navy's largest aircraft carrier, arrived in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of the U.S. Southern Command's area of responsibility on Tuesday, citing anti-drug operations.
Pentagon spokesman Parnell said in a statement Tuesday (November 11) that deploying the carrier strike group would enhance the U.S.'s detection, surveillance, and strike capabilities in the Western Hemisphere, thereby "combating drug trafficking and weakening and ultimately dismantling transnational criminal organizations."
This move has exacerbated tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela. Venezuelan Defense Minister López Obrador announced a new round of military exercises on Tuesday, involving 200,000 troops, to improve the military's command, control, and communications capabilities in response to external threats.
Documents obtained by Reuters and sources familiar with the matter revealed that Venezuela is deploying weapons and plans to wage guerrilla-style resistance or create chaos in the event of a U.S. air or ground attack.
Since early September, the U.S. military has sunk approximately 20 alleged drug-smuggling ships in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, resulting in at least 76 deaths.
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Venezuelan President Maduro accused the Trump administration of "fabricating a war." US President Trump recently downplayed the possibility of war with Venezuela but stated that Maduro's days in power are numbered.
Britain and France question the legality of US military operations. French Foreign Minister Barro criticized US military operations in the Caribbean at the opening ceremony of the G7 summit in Canada on Tuesday, arguing that these operations violate international law.
He said that after Venezuela warned that the US military deployment could trigger a full-blown conflict, it was crucial to avoid potential escalation and instability.
CNN, citing sources, reported that Britain has stopped sharing intelligence with the US on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and considers these attacks illegal.
Furthermore, Colombian President Petro on Tuesday ordered a suspension of intelligence sharing with the US until the US ceases attacks on ships in the Caribbean, emphasizing that the fight against drug trafficking must be based on respect for the human rights of the people of the Caribbean.
