Caracas Begins Multiple Days of Armed Forces and ‘Electronic Warfare’ Drills After American Attacks on Suspected Drug Vessels
Caracas has initiated a 72-hour period of armed drills on its Caribbean island of La Orchila as frictions rise amid Washington's regional operations.
Escalating Frictions in the Region
Units positioned for what American officials described as an counter-narcotics mission have destroyed at least several crafts and a total of 14 people suspected of transporting drugs across the waters this month.
These actions and a presence of Washington's fleet in the zone have sparked concerns of a potential invasion in the South American nation.
National Reaction
The exercise ordered by the nation's leader was dubbed “Caribbean Sovereignty”, said the defense chief.
“There will be air defense deployments with armed drones, reconnaissance aircraft, submarine drones... Our forces will conduct digital combat tactics,” he announced.
Official broadcasts aired video of naval units and military ships stationed off the island, where Venezuela maintains a defense outpost.
The armed forces said the drills would involve multiple naval units, over twenty planes and 20 small boats from the “naval special operations unit”.
Background and Claims
The territory is near the zone where the US stopped and detained a national fishing boat for an extended period over the recent days.
The leader, whose recent electoral processes were not recognized by the US and many other countries, has vowed that Caracas will protect its sovereignty against what he described as US “aggression” against his nation.
Washington is posting a multi-million dollar reward for the arrest of the president, who faces drug trafficking charges.
Rebuttals and Counterclaims
Caracas has demanded an inquiry of a American attack on an suspected narcotics vessel early this month that claimed the lives of over a dozen persons.
This was one of multiple national boats that American leader Donald Trump said his country had “knocked off” without sharing specifics.
“There is no proof, because they say it transported narcotics but can this be verified?”, remarked Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.
The minister informed the press that officials had confiscated more than 60 metric tons of narcotics so far this period.
“This represents the biggest seizure that has been seized since 2010,” said the official, who – along with the leader and other government members – is under US sanctions.
US Justification
Trump has justified armed interventions by posting on social media that “violent drug trafficking cartels are a risk to US National Security, diplomatic interests, and vital US Interests”.
Washington has published videos of these operations and claims it has conclusive material that the victims were US-bound traffickers, without offering further proof to substantiate the allegations.
Caracas has consistently denied being a center for illegal activities.
