CARACAS – Venezuela has deployed warships off its coast in response to the presence of U.S. Navy vessels in the region. The United States dispatched three ships to waters near Venezuela last week as part of operations against drug trafficking and to increase pressure on President Nicolás Maduro.

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López announced the deployment, adding that a “significant” number of drones will also patrol the coastal area.

Tensions Rising

Relations between the U.S. and Venezuela have been deteriorating for years, but tensions escalated further last month when the Trump administration raised the reward for Maduro’s arrest from $25 million to $50 million (€43 million).

According to sources, Washington is considering sending two additional warships to the Caribbean near Venezuela.

Disputed Legitimacy

Maduro has accused the U.S. of seeking regime change in Caracas. Both the United States and the European Union do not recognize his presidency as legitimate.

The latest military maneuvers underscore the growing geopolitical standoff, raising concerns across the Caribbean about potential fallout in the region.