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Three guided missile destroyers from the United States Navy are continuing their approach towards the shores of Venezuela and could establish strategic positions in the Caribbean later this week, confirmed sources from the Pentagon as reported by the Miami Herald.
The maneuver is the centerpiece of a new military operation ordered by President Donald Trump to fight drug cartels in Latin America.
The ships —the USS Sampson, the USS Jason Dunham, and the USS Gravely— are part of the Arleigh Burke class, regarded as the backbone of the U.S. surface fleet. Known for their versatility and firepower, these destroyers are designed to counter multiple threats in the air, on the sea, and on land, in addition to anti-submarine missions.
The presence of these warships off the coast of Venezuela represents one of the most substantial naval deployments by the United States in the Caribbean in recent years and sends a strong message to Caracas at a time of heightened political and military tension.
The Aegis System: The Heart of the Deployment
At the core of the combat capability of destroyers is the Aegis system, an advanced network of radars and missiles that enables the detection, tracking, and neutralization of multiple threats in real time.
Developed during the Cold War and continuously modernized, Aegis provides these vessels with a technological edge that few navies in the world can match.
Each ship is equipped with a vertical launcher of 96 cells capable of firing long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, air defense interceptors, anti-submarine rockets, and other high-precision projectiles.
In addition, they incorporate 5-inch naval guns and Phalanx close-in defense systems, designed to destroy missiles or aircraft that manage to penetrate external defenses.
The combination of these capabilities transforms the group of destroyers into a key deterrent, not only against drug trafficking but also in a geopolitical tension scenario such as that surrounding Venezuela.
A large-scale deployment
According to U.S. defense officials, the operation involves about 4,000 sailors and Marines, supported by P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft—specialized in detecting submarines and vessels at long distances—other support ships, and at least one attack nuclear submarine.
The White House has insisted that the mission's goal is to stop the flow of drugs into the United States and dismantle transnational criminal networks. However, military analysts point out that the magnitude and nature of the deployment also reflect a direct intention to apply pressure on the regime of Nicolás Maduro, accused by Washington of leading the Cartel of the Suns.
"The president Trump has been clear: he is willing to use every element of American power to stop the drugs flooding our country and bring those responsible to justice," stated spokesperson Karoline Leavitt at a recent press conference.
Caracas responds with militias
The reaction from Caracas was immediate. Maduro announced on Monday the mobilization of 4.5 million militiamen across the country to “defend national sovereignty.”
In a televised speech, Maduro asserted that peasant and worker militias will be equipped with rifles and missiles to ensure the defense of “seas, skies, and lands” against the American threat.
Although the Bolivarian Militia is formally one of the five branches of the National Armed Forces, experts indicate that its operational capacity is limited compared to the naval and air power deployed by the United States.
Regional escalation
The deployment of destroyers in waters near Venezuela adds to a series of measures from Washington that have increased pressure on Caracas: the designation of several Latin American cartels as terrorist organizations, the inclusion of the Cartel de los Soles on that list, and the offer of a $50 million reward for the capture of Maduro.
The naval operation has raised concerns in Latin America. The Mexican government warned that Washington's unilateral actions could pave the way for direct intervention in the region.
Human rights organizations, for their part, have questioned the use of bases like Guantánamo to deport alleged members of criminal organizations detained during immigration operations.
Between drug trafficking and geopolitics
Although the official justification from the Pentagon is the fight against drug trafficking, the positioning of the destroyers in front of Venezuela has a strong geopolitical component.
The Caribbean, historically sensitive to regional security, once again becomes a stage for confrontation between Washington and a government allied with Havana.
The imminent arrival of ships to strategic positions off the coast of Venezuela is increasing tensions and reinforcing the perception that the United States is willing to escalate its pressure on Maduro beyond economic and diplomatic sanctions.
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