Venezuela deploys warships, drones after U.S. sends guided-missile destroyers to region
Source: CBS News/AFP
Updated on: August 27, 2025 / 6:27 AM EDT
Venezuela on Tuesday deployed warships and drones to patrol the country's coastline after the United States dispatched three destroyers to the region to pressure strongman President Nicolas Maduro. In a video on social media, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino announced a "significant" drone deployment as well as naval patrols along its Caribbean coast, including "larger vessels further north in our territorial waters."
The move comes amid escalating tensions with Washington, which sent three guided-missile destoyers and 4,000 Marines towards Venezuela last week to curb drug trafficking. On Tuesday, a U.S. source told AFP that President Donald Trump was dispatching two more ships to the Caribbean to crack down on drug cartels.
A guided missile cruiser, the USS Erie, and a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, the USS Newport News, are due in the region next week, the source familiar with the move told AFP on condition of anonymity. Despite the dramatic military build-up, analysts have downplayed the possibility of a U.S. invasion or U.S. strikes on Venezuela. On the streets of Venezuela, many people also shrugged off the threat as posturing.
Maduro, who claimed a third term in July 2024 elections marred by fraud allegations and a crackdown on the opposition, has been in Mr. Trump's sights ever since the Republic's first term in office, from 2017 to 2021. But his policy of maximum pressure on Venezuela, including an oil embargo still in effect, failed to dislodge Maduro from power.
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/venezuela-deploys-warships-us-sends-destroyers-region/
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