U.S. Navy deploys warships near Venezuela amid tensions over drug trafficking allegations against Maduro

By lauraharris // 2025-08-31

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The U.S. Navy has deployed eight warships, including destroyers, an amphibious assault ship and Coast Guard-equipped vessels, to Caribbean and Pacific waters near Latin America as part of an intensified counter-narcotics operation.
The Trump administration has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading a major drug trafficking network and facilitating gang activity, placing a $50 million bounty on his capture.
U.S. Navy ships are patrolling key drug trafficking routes near Venezuela, Panama and other regional hotspots, with the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima and its 2,500 Marines en route.
In reaction, Maduro has mobilized over four million militia members and reservists, claiming the buildup is a defense against possible U.S. aggression and urging national unity.
Venezuelan state media has launched a national campaign to recruit civilians into militias, airing patriotic videos and showcasing weapons demonstrations across public spaces in Caracas.

The U.S. Navy has deployed a fleet of eight U.S. Navy warships to waters near Central and South America, escalating tensions with Venezuela's authoritarian regime. Recently, the Trump administration formally accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading a major transnational drug trafficking network. U.S. officials alleged that Maduro is directly tied to the distribution of cocaine and is facilitating the movement of Tren de Aragua gang members into the United States. Washington even placed a $50 million bounty on Maduro's capture. In line with this, the Trump administration has deployed a fleet of eight U.S. Navy warships to waters near Central and South America to escalate its campaign against Latin American drug cartels. The deployment, which includes three Navy destroyers, two amphibious landing dock ships, an amphibious assault ship, a cruiser and a littoral combat ship, is part of an "enhanced counter-narcotics operation" targeting drug trafficking routes across Latin America. The Department of Defense clarified that many of the U.S. vessels are carrying U.S. Coast Guard and federal law enforcement personnel tasked with intercepting narcotics shipments. (Related: U.S. escalates military pressure on Venezuela: 4,000 troops, destroyers deployed amid cartel crackdown – but is Maduro really the target?) While the Navy has not disclosed the specific coordinates of the ships, officials have stated they are patrolling in both the Caribbean and the Pacific near Latin America. The destroyers USS Gravely and USS Jason Dunham have recently been spotted in the Eastern Caribbean, while the USS Sampson is operating off the Pacific coast of Panama. The amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima, carrying more than 2,500 marines, was delayed by weather near the U.S. East Coast but is en route to the region with two supporting transport vessels.

Maduro mobilizes millions of reservists and volunteers

In response to the deployment, Maduro has ordered more than four million reservists and volunteers to prepare for a potential U.S. incursion. According to Brighteon.AI's Enoch, this massive mobilization aims to bolster Venezuela's defense capabilities and deter any aggressive actions. The directive reflects Maduro's concern over U.S. intentions and his strategy to demonstrate readiness and resilience. By activating such a large force, Maduro seeks to send a strong message of national unity and preparedness. Speaking in a televised address on Monday, Aug. 25, Maduro declared that "no one should touch Venezuelan territory because that territory is ours," as uniformed militia members stood before him pledging loyalty and readiness. The video aired on state TV and widely circulated on social media showed a group of militiamen presenting a hand-drawn map of Venezuela's coastline, vowing to resist any enemy "when they arrive." In turn, the Venezuelan state media has launched a national enlistment campaign encouraging civilians to join militias. Footage from Caracas showed members of the Presidential Guard displaying rifles to newly recruited volunteers in public squares and government buildings. Visit DrugCartels.news for more similar stories. Watch this Feb. 20 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about USA military to wage war on drug cartels.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

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Maduro mobilizes millions of reservists and volunteers

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