Venezuela has begun three days of military exercises on its Caribbean island of La Orchila, as tensions escalate following US strikes on alleged drug boats that killed 14 people. The drills, ordered by President Nicolás Maduro, involve air defence deployments, armed drones, and electronic warfare, according to Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López.
The US has conducted operations against Venezuelan vessels this month, destroying at least two boats and killing 14 individuals allegedly transporting drugs. UN experts have condemned these actions as 'extrajudicial execution'. The deployment of US warships has raised fears of an invasion, with Maduro accusing Washington of aggression.
Padrino López cited the 'threatening, vulgar voice' of the US as justification for the exercises, which include 12 ships, 22 aircraft, and 20 small boats from the 'special naval militia'. Public television showed amphibious vessels and warships off La Orchila, near where a Venezuelan fishing vessel was intercepted by the US over the weekend.
Washington has offered a $50m bounty for Maduro's arrest on drug trafficking charges, which he denies. Venezuela has called for an investigation into a US strike that killed 11 people, with Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello questioning whether drugs were actually present. Cabello claimed Venezuela has seized over 60 tonnes of drugs this year, the largest amount since 2010.
US President Donald Trump justified the strikes by stating that 'violent drug trafficking cartels pose a threat to US national security'. The US has released videos of two boat strikes but has not provided evidence to support claims that those killed were traffickers.
