The U.S. Department of Defense has recently deployed a carrier strike group to the waters surrounding Latin America, citing the objective of dismantling drug trafficking operations. This deployment represents a marked escalation in military activity within the region, sparking apprehensions about possible intensification of conflict. In a recent incident, U.S. forces engaged vessels operating in international waters, leading to casualties among those on board. Cynthia J. Arnson, director of the Latin American Program at the Wilson Center, voiced doubts about the legitimacy of these strikes, highlighting the absence of concrete evidence tying the targeted ships to narcotics smuggling. She challenged the legality of the military actions and suggested that the operation’s scope likely surpasses conventional anti-drug efforts. Arnson also warned that these developments might foreshadow direct military interventions inside Venezuela, potentially aimed at destabilizing Nicolás Maduro‘s government.
Expert Warns: US Escalation Raises Alarms, Signaling Imminent Attacks Inside Venezuela
