WASHINGTON – The United States is deploying three Aegis missile destroyers — the USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, and USS Sampson — to waters near Venezuela in an effort to counter threats from Latin American drug cartels, Reuters reported today. 

The move is part of a large-scale military operation in the southern Caribbean involving around 4,000 Marines and Navy personnel, P-8 reconnaissance aircraft, multiple warships, and at least one attack submarine. 

While all operations are taking place in international waters and airspace, U.S. officials confirmed that the destroyers could be used as launch platforms for targeted strikes if required. 

Trump Targets Cartels 

Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated the deployment is intended to reinforce Washington’s fight against powerful drug cartels. Among the groups designated as “global terrorist organizations” by the U.S. are Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, both accused of trafficking vast amounts of narcotics through the region. 

Maduro’s Response 

In Caracas, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro responded in vague terms to the U.S. military presence. Without directly mentioning the ships, he declared that Venezuela would defend its “sea, air, and land” against what he described as “the bizarre threat of a crumbling empire.” 

The deployment underscores the rising tension between Washington and Caracas and reflects growing U.S. concern about the Caribbean’s role as a strategic corridor for organized crime and narcotics smuggling.