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The United States Southern Command once again displayed strength in the Caribbean this Saturday by releasing images of an MV-22B Osprey taking off from the amphibious ship USS Iwo Jima, a direct signal amidst the political and military escalation against Nicolás Maduro's regime.
The gesture comes just hours after the tense phone call between Donald Trump and Nicolás Maduro, and days after Washington officially designated the Cartel de los Soles, with Maduro at its helm, as an international terrorist organization, a label that paves the way for more aggressive operations against Caracas.
The photograph published by Southcom shows the aircraft rising over the Caribbean Sea under the supervision of an American sailor, a clear visual message: the United States is ready and positioned in the area to act.
The deployment is part of Operation Southern Spear, coinciding with the presence of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, the largest and most lethal in the U.S. Navy, leading naval maneuvers with over 15,000 soldiers and F-35 fighters.
The exhibition takes place while the Trump Administration is evaluating a new phase of operations against Venezuela. Sources cited by Reuters assert that this second stage could include covert missions, even with the aim of overthrowing Maduro.
The State Department accuses the Venezuelan leader of commanding a network of military personnel and officials involved in drug trafficking, stating that the designation as a terrorist organization provides “new tools” to combat the Cartel of the Suns beyond economic sanctions.
The entire Caribbean is watching with concern. The region has witnessed how, since the start of operations, U.S. forces have destroyed vessels and taken down suspected narco-terrorists, while military maneuvers increase near Trinidad and Tobago and along maritime routes used by migrants and traffickers.
Caracas insists that this is an attempt at "a disguised coup under the guise of anti-drug efforts." Maduro, rather than appearing concerned, has resorted to his usual performances, dancing at public events while asserting that "no one can stop him."
But the designation as a terrorist places their regime at one of the highest levels of confrontation with the United States, and their room for maneuver is diminished as Washington reinforces its military presence.
The South Command's publication, in this context, is not just another image. It serves as a reminder that the U.S. military muscle is deployed, active, and ready.
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