The United States has intensified its military presence near Venezuela, conducting live-fire naval exercises just 200 kilometers off the country’s coast, raising regional tensions and fueling speculation over Washington’s strategic intentions.

The drills, confirmed by satellite imagery from the European Space Agency and reported by Sky News, involved the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima and two destroyers, under the command of U.S. Southern Command.

The operation coincides with the repositioning of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier group from Italy, placing approximately 14% of the U.S. Navy’s active fleet in the Caribbean. Supporting air assets include B-1B and B-52 bombers operating from Florida and Louisiana, and F-35 fighter jets stationed at bases in Puerto Rico.

President Donald Trump, speaking on October 24, credited the deployment with a 95% year-over-year reduction in maritime drug trafficking, noting that cartels are now shifting to land routes. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, in a post on X, reported 61 fatalities from strikes on suspected narco-trafficking vessels since September 2, describing the targets as “narco-terrorists” more dangerous than Al-Qaeda. Southern Command’s General Sean Parnell echoed the sentiment, stating that after two decades of overseas defense, the focus has shifted to dismantling transnational criminal networks closer to home.

Defense analysts suggest the buildup serves dual purposes. Mark Cancian, senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told Sky News that the deployment of scarce carrier assets signals pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s regime while reinforcing anti-drug operations. “It’s combat power in the Caribbean,” Cancian said, noting that while strike aircraft are less effective against small boats, they excel in precision targeting of coastal infrastructure.

Nick Brown of Janes Defense highlighted the USS Ford’s capabilities, including its 4,805-member crew and advanced strike arsenal, underscoring its strategic weight in the region.

In response, President Maduro accused Washington of manufacturing “false narratives” to justify a potential invasion. On Friday, he condemned the drills as a pretext for regime change. The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. officials are monitoring Venezuelan military sites suspected of facilitating drug smuggling, though no formal congressional authorization has been issued for expanded operations.

Critics have questioned the lack of focus on Pacific trafficking routes, which remain dominant in global narcotics flows. Nonetheless, satellite imagery confirms escalating U.S. air and sea activity in the Caribbean, with the reported 61 strike-related deaths underscoring the stakes in a region still reeling from economic sanctions and political unrest.