The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, stated on Tuesday that the Trump administration has taken "an offensive" approach against drug cartels and emphasized the military deployment in the Caribbean and near Venezuela as part of this strategy.
During a cabinet meeting at the White House, broadcast live, Rubio stated that the United States is experiencing an unprecedented moment in its fight against organized crime.
"For the first time in the modern era, we are truly on the offensive against the organized cartels that are pumping poison—deadly poison—into our cities, and this is a team effort," Rubio stated, referring to the intensification of military and security operations in the region.
This week, three guided missile destroyers from the United States Navy approached the shores of Venezuela, and on Tuesday, military deployment in the Caribbean intensified with the sending of a fast attack nuclear submarine and a guided missile cruiser.
The deployment of resources in waters near Venezuela is interpreted as a direct pressure signal on the regime of Nicolás Maduro, whom Washington accuses of ties to drug trafficking networks and of serving as a platform for illegal operations in the region.
In the same meeting, several cabinet members took the opportunity to praise Donald Trump's leadership, which Rubio described as "the president of American workers" and "the chief peacemaker."
The meeting, which lasted over three hours and included Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security; Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy of the White House for the Middle East; among others; was criticized by the press as a demonstration of political loyalty to the leader.
The announcement by the Secretary of State coincides with the increase in tensions between Washington and Caracas, in a context where the U.S. government insists it will not allow cartels or foreign allies to turn Venezuela into a "criminal sanctuary" at the doorstep of the continent.
For its part, under pressure from Washington, Caracas released 13 political prisoners in the last week.
Caracas has been supported by allies such as Cuba and Colombia.
After the accusations from Washington, President Gustavo Petro defended Nicolás Maduro and denied the existence of the so-called Cartel of the Suns, which the United States has designated as a terrorist organization and whose leader, according to Washington, is the Venezuelan president himself.
Frequently Asked Questions about the U.S. Military Presence in the Caribbean and Its Implications
Why has the United States increased its military presence near Venezuela?
The United States has increased its military presence in the Caribbean as part of its offensive against drug trafficking and to apply pressure on the regime of Nicolás Maduro, which it accuses of links to drug trafficking networks. This deployment includes destroyers, submarines, and amphibious squadrons, and is interpreted as a direct signal of pressure on the Venezuelan government.
What does the United States accuse Nicolás Maduro's government of?
The United States accuses Nicolás Maduro's government of leading the Cartel of the Suns, a narcoterrorist organization that traffics drugs into the North American country. Washington has designated this cartel as a terrorist organization and is offering a reward for Maduro's capture, whom it also accuses of being an illegitimate leader.
What measures has the U.S. taken against the Maduro regime?
The United States has intensified its military strategy and sanctions against the Maduro regime, including the deployment of military resources in the Caribbean and the designation of the Cartel of the Suns as a terrorist organization. Furthermore, it has raised the reward for information leading to Maduro's capture and has implemented sanctions against Venezuelan officials.
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