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US Navy Ship Sails Near Venezuelan Coast
US Navy ship sailing off the coast of Venezuela. | Photo: U.S. Navy
Published 23 June 2020
A U.S. Navy ship sailed Tuesday off the coast of Venezuela, in what Southern Command called a "freedom of navigation operation" a day after an Iranian cargo ship docked at one of the ports of the South American country.
According to SouthCom, the "peaceful" operation took place "in international waters, outside the territorial jurisdiction of Venezuela, 12 nautical miles (about 22 kilometers) from that country.
"These freedoms are the basis of ongoing security efforts and are essential for regional peace and stability," said Admiral Craig Faller, commander of Southern Command.
The U.S. Navy "routinely conducts freedom of navigation operations around the world to preserve maritime navigation and guaranteed access rights to all nations and vital to the global mobility of U.S. forces," Southern Command explained.
However, the fact comes after the government of President Donald Trump announced last April the deployment of more military assets in the Caribbean, after accusing the Venezuelan government without proof of illegal drug trafficking-related movements, in its attempt, once again, to destabilize the Caribbean nation.
More:
https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/US-Navy-Ship-Sails-Near-Venezuelan-Coast----20200623-0027.html
