US Navy strengthens presence near Venezuela to combat drug trafficking
The U.S. military is taking action to combat drug trafficking near Venezuela, with President Donald Trump leading the charge to disrupt criminal organizations in the region. Naval and air assets have been deployed to target narco-terrorism and protect maritime routes, with recent strikes on alleged drug smugglers in the southern Caribbean Sea.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has mobilized several assets, including the USS Iwo Jima, USS Lake Erie, USS Jason Dunham, USS Gravely, and USS Sampson, to dismantle transnational criminal organizations and foreign terrorist groups. This deployment is in line with the President’s directive to defend the homeland against illicit activities that threaten national security.
Air assets have also been sent to enhance detection, monitoring, and interdiction capabilities in the region. This increased presence aims to disrupt narcotics trafficking and dismantle criminal networks that pose a threat to the safety and prosperity of the United States and its allies in the Western Hemisphere.
The U.S. military’s efforts in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility will bolster existing task forces and command capabilities to combat drug trafficking and protect regional security. By targeting criminal organizations and narco-terrorism, the U.S. aims to maintain a strong defense against threats to national security and ensure the safety of its citizens at home and abroad.
