Venezuela has initiated multi-day military exercises on its Caribbean La Orchila island as tensions with the United States escalate over recent anti-drug operations in the region, SİA reports.
U.S. forces, conducting operations Washington describes as targeting drug trafficking, have destroyed at least two Venezuelan vessels this month and detained 14 people accused of transporting narcotics, actions condemned by United Nations experts as “extrajudicial executions.”
The deployment of U.S. warships near Venezuelan waters has sparked fears of a potential military confrontation. President Nicolás Maduro, also commander-in-chief, ordered the exercises, naming them “Sovereign Caribbean,” according to Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López.
“Air defense units will be deployed, including armed drones, surveillance drones, and submarine drones. Electronic warfare operations will also be conducted,” López said, criticizing the “threatening and aggressive” tone of U.S. actions.
State television footage showed amphibious ships and naval vessels positioned around La Orchila, which hosts a Venezuelan military base. The drills are expected to involve 12 naval ships, 22 aircraft, and 20 small boats from the “special naval militia.”
The island lies near the location where U.S. authorities recently intercepted a Venezuelan fishing vessel for several hours.
Maduro, whose last two election victories were not recognised by Washington and other international actors, reaffirmed that Caracas will defend itself against what he described as U.S. “aggression.”
The U.S. has also offered a $50 million reward for Maduro’s arrest, citing drug trafficking charges.
Bütün xəbərlər Facebook səhifəmizdə
USD
EUR
GBP
RUB