Venezuela claims it will triumph over the U.S. despite the military buildup in the Caribbean

The General Secretary of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), Diosdado Cabello forecasted this Saturday a "great victory" against what he termed as "threats" from the United States, referring to the U.S. naval and aerial deployment in the Caribbean, which Washington justifies as part of its strategy to combat drug trafficking.

According to EFE, Cabello made the statement in the context of political tension with the United States, while Nicolás Maduro's government claims that this deployment is not solely related to anti-drug operations but is part of an attempt to provoke a regime change in Venezuela.

The EFE agency reported that the Venezuelan official framed his forecast of a “great victory” in that assessment of external threats, reinforcing the official narrative that portrays U.S. actions in the Caribbean as a pressure factor on Caracas.

The U.S. argument, on the other hand, focuses on the fight against drug trafficking as the main reason for the deployment in the area.

Since September 2025, the U.S. has intensified attacks on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, claiming to combat drug trafficking.

The offensive has destroyed 23 boats and resulted in 87 deaths, generating criticism for lack of evidence and the use of military force.

The offensive began on September 2, 2025, and since then, it has expanded from the Caribbean to the eastern Pacific with an increasingly frequent and deadly series of operations.

Washington presents it as part of the war against drug trafficking and "narcoterrorism," while alarms rise over the use of military force in scenarios without a declared war and the lack of verifiable public evidence regarding several of the targeted objectives.

With key episodes in September, a surge in intensity in October, and new actions in November and December, the consolidated reports indicate that the crisis has resulted in 23 boats destroyed and 87 dead, with 22 operations acknowledged across both theaters.

Beyond the count of sunken boats and lost lives, the campaign marks a turning point: an open militarization of the anti-drug fight at sea, directly impacting the region and an increasing human cost.

As the White House strengthens its narrative of “narcoterrorism,” uncomfortable questions are piling up: Under what legal framework are the attacks carried out? What rules of engagement apply? What could the “exit” for Nicolás Maduro be? Will there be a military escalation? How will the Trump administration define “success”?