The United States has amassed its largest military presence in the Caribbean since the 1989 invasion of Panama, as tensions with Venezuela escalate. President Donald Trump has accused Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro of leading the 'Cartel of the Suns' drug-trafficking organisation and placed a $50m bounty on his head.
US officials have briefed that a 'new phase' in the operation is set to begin, after several international airlines cancelled flights to and from Venezuela on Saturday. The US Federal Aviation Administration urged civilian aircraft to 'exercise caution' due to 'heightened military activity' in the region. On Monday, the US state department’s designation of the Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist organisation takes effect.
The Venezuelan military rejected the allegations as a 'vile lie to justify an illegitimate and illegal intervention'. Experts say such a group does not exist as a traditional cartel, but rather is a catch-all for Maduro’s alleged ties to criminal networks. Some believe the terrorist designation could provide legal cover for a US attack.
The US has used the 'war on drugs' to justify its military presence. Since September, US forces have struck at least 22 vessels, killing 83 people. The United Nations and other humanitarian organisations have described these attacks as extrajudicial executions. The US has not provided evidence that the vessels were carrying drugs, and legal experts say they posed no immediate threat.
The military buildup began in August with the arrival of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group. In October, the Pentagon deployed the USS Gerald R Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, which arrived in the Caribbean on 11 November with over 4,000 sailors and fighter jets. The US also maintains bases in Puerto Rico, Honduras and Cuba, and Cooperative Security Locations in El Salvador, Aruba and Curaçao.
Satellite images show upgrades at the former Roosevelt Roads naval station in Puerto Rico, where US marines have been conducting exercises since August. The US military presence in the region continues to grow, with Trump saying he is keeping all options on the table, from military intervention to a negotiated exit for Maduro.
