Caracas Launches Multiple Days of Military and ‘Electronic Warfare’ Exercises Following American Attacks on Suspected Narcotics Vessels
The nation has started three days of armed drills on its Caribbean island of La Orchila as frictions escalate amid Washington's regional operations.
Escalating Tensions in the Caribbean
Military assets sent for what Washington described as an anti-drug operation have blown up at least multiple vessels and a total of over a dozen individuals allegedly transporting drugs across the waters this recently.
The attacks and a presence of US warships in the zone have fueled worries of a possible invasion in Caracas.
Venezuelan Reaction
The drill authorized by the nation's leader was named “Caribbean Sovereignty”, stated Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López.
“We are deploying aerial defense systems with military drones, reconnaissance aircraft, underwater units... Our forces will conduct electronic warfare actions,” he declared.
Public television showed video of naval units and warships stationed off the island, where Caracas maintains a military base.
The armed forces stated the drills would involve 12 ships, over twenty planes and a fleet of patrol vessels from the “naval special operations unit”.
Context and Allegations
La Orchila island is adjacent to the area where the US stopped and detained a national fishing boat for several hours over the past few days.
The leader, whose previous votes were not accepted by the US and several international actors, has sworn that Venezuela will resist any aggression against what he called US “aggression” against his nation.
The US government is providing a multi-million dollar reward for the arrest of the leader, who is charged with illegal drug allegations.
Rebuttals and Alternate Narratives
The government has demanded an probe of a Washington-led operation on an reported drug boat in recent days that killed 11 people.
This was one of three Venezuelan vessels that the White House said his government had “destroyed” without sharing specifics.
“One doesn’t know, because authorities claim it was moving illicit substances but where is the evidence?”, said a senior official.
The official stated publicly that officials had intercepted more than a significant amount of narcotics so far this period.
“This represents the biggest seizure that has been seized since over a decade ago,” added the official, who – along with Maduro and other high-ranking figures – is under Washington's punitive measures.
US Justification
The US president has justified the use of force by posting on social media that “illegal smuggling organizations are a risk to the nation's security, international relations, and crucial objectives”.
The US government has published videos of these operations and asserts it has undeniable proof that the victims were US-bound traffickers, without providing details to support the allegations.
Caracas has repeatedly rejected being a trafficking hub.
