The United States Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, boarded the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima this Monday, deployed in the waters of the Caribbean, as part of the U.S. military operation against drug trafficking.
The visit is part of the Pentagon's increasing military presence in the region, which includes at least seven warships and over 4,500 sailors and Marines, in response to the rise in drug trafficking, which, according to Washington, comes from Venezuela.
Before boarding the USS Iwo Jima, speaking to the United States Marines, he expressed: "What you are doing now is not training. This is a real exercise, in the name of the vital national interests of the United States of America: to put an end to the poisoning of the American people."
The Secretary of War stated: “The narco-terrorists and drug traffickers have been warned,” making it clear that the current operation is not just a drill.
Before boarding the USS Iwo Jima, Hegseth and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, met with about 300 soldiers at Muñiz Air Base in Carolina. Subsequently, both moved to the ship, which is among the most powerful in the U.S. naval arsenal.
This amphibious assault ship is a floating military base. It can accommodate nearly two thousand marines and features a vertical takeoff aircraft launch platform.
The government of Venezuela also displayed its military weaponry in the Caribbean
The military presence has intensified following recent large-scale exercises conducted south of Puerto Rico and the Pentagon's report on the flyby of Venezuelan planes near the USS Jason Dunham destroyer on Friday.
Venezuelan fighter jets flew over the USS Jason Dunham destroyer for the second time in two days in international waters. U.S. Department of Defense officials described the maneuver as "playing with fire."
The F-16 fighters of the Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB) positioned themselves close enough to come within the range of weapons from both the ship and the aircraft. It was not specified whether the planes were armed. In response, the United States reportedly sent ten additional F-35 fighters to Puerto Rico.
The visit of Pete Hegseth also comes just hours after the regime of Nicolás Maduro announced the reinforcement of troops in five coastal states of Venezuela, in what it called its “Caribbean and Atlantic facade.”
Diosdado Cabello called this Monday to "prepare on all fronts" and to "move towards the people in arms" to defend Venezuela against the naval reinforcement from the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions about the U.S. Military Operation in the Caribbean
What is the objective of the United States' military deployment in the Caribbean?
The goal of the U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean is to combat drug trafficking. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that the operation aims to put an end to the "poisoning of the American people" by drug traffickers, particularly those linked to the Venezuelan regime and the Cartel of the Suns.
Why is this operation considered not a training exercise?
The operation is not a training exercise because it involves a real and direct action against narcoterrorist organizations. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth emphasized that the actions of the soldiers and marines on the USS Iwo Jima are part of a genuine mission to protect the national interests of the United States.
What response has Venezuela had to the U.S. military deployment?
The response from Venezuela has been a combination of defensive actions and defiant rhetoric. The regime of Nicolás Maduro has bolstered its troops in coastal states and accused the United States of seeking regime change through military threats. Additionally, there have been overflights of Venezuelan combat planes near U.S. vessels, which the Pentagon has labeled as "highly provocative actions."
Which ships are participating in the U.S. military operation in the Caribbean?
Among the ships participating in the operation are the USS Iwo Jima, the USS San Antonio, and the USS Fort Lauderdale. These amphibious assault ships and destroyers are part of a broader deployment that also includes guided-missile destroyers, nuclear attack submarines, and landing units, with the goal of deterring and, if necessary, taking offensive actions against drug trafficking in the region.
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