For two months, the United States military has deployed a significant force of warships, fighter jets, bombers, marines, drones, and spy planes to the Caribbean Sea, marking the largest such deployment in decades. This buildup includes "bomber attack demonstrations" by B-52 planes off Venezuela's coast, the authorization of CIA deployment to Venezuela, and the dispatch of the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier to the region. The US has claimed responsibility for strikes on vessels from Venezuela, alleging they carried narcotics and "narco-terrorists," though details and evidence have not been publicly provided. These strikes have drawn regional condemnation and legal questions from experts. While the US presents these actions as part of a war on drug trafficking, analysts like Dr. Christopher Sabatini suggest the military presence is an intimidation campaign aimed at influencing Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro and his inner circle.
US Military Deployment and Operations
As of October 23, 2024, US military assets in the Caribbean region included 10 ships, such as guided-missile destroyers, amphibious assault ships, and oil tankers. BBC Verify has monitored public tracking data, satellite imagery, and social media to track the deployment.
B-52 long-range bomber planes have conducted "bomber attack demonstrations" near the Venezuelan coast. The Pentagon has ordered a carrier strike group, including the USS Gerald R Ford, to the region. Satellite imagery has shown a guided-missile cruiser, the USS Lake Erie, and a vessel identified as the MV Ocean Trader, a converted cargo ship designed for special forces support, east of Trinidad and Tobago. This vessel can house drones, helicopters, and small boats.
The US has also increased its air presence, with F-35 fighter jets identified on the tarmac in Puerto Rico. A video shared on social media showed an MQ-9 Reaper drone at Rafael Hernández Airport in Puerto Rico, a type of drone used for attacks and surveillance in other conflict zones. B1 bombers and P-8 Poseidon spy planes have also been observed. Military helicopters, including Boeing MH-6M Little Birds used by US special forces, have been seen operating off Trinidad and Tobago.
US Stance on Venezuelan Leadership and Incentives
The US does not recognize Nicolás Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate president, citing the 2024 election as neither free nor fair. The US embassy in Caracas closed in 2019. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed a desire to see Maduro removed from power.
Despite a 2016 campaign pledge by Donald Trump against toppling foreign regimes, his administration has pursued policies targeting Maduro. The US has offered a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest. This bounty has not resulted in any known defections from Maduro's inner circle. Analysts, including Jose Ignacio Hernández from CSIS, suggest that such an amount may be insufficient for Venezuelan elites, given the potential for significant wealth through corruption within the oil-rich state, citing cases like former Treasury head Alejandro Andrade who was convicted for $1 billion in bribes.
Economic sanctions imposed by the US have intensified Venezuela's economic crisis but have not led to senior figures turning against President Maduro. Experts like Michael Albertus of the University of Chicago indicate that authoritarian leaders often implement strong monitoring mechanisms to ensure the loyalty of their inner circle, making defections challenging.
Drug Trafficking Claims and Regional Context
President Trump has stated the military actions are a "war on narcotics traffickers," claiming a vessel struck on October 16 was "loaded up with mostly fentanyl." However, fentanyl is primarily produced in Mexico and enters the US via its southern border.
Venezuela is not a major producer of cocaine, which predominantly originates from Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. While some cocaine is trafficked through Venezuela, its government states it is actively combating this. A 2025 US Drug Enforcement Administration report indicated that 84% of cocaine seized in the US originated from Colombia, and Venezuela was not specifically mentioned in the report's cocaine section.
Dr. Christopher Sabatini states that the current military build-up is "not about drugs" but aligns with Venezuelan opposition narratives that portray the Maduro government as a criminal regime. Since 2020, the US Justice Department has accused President Maduro of leading a drug trafficking and narco-terrorism organization, accusations Maduro denies. Trump has cited "drugs coming in" from Venezuela as part of the rationale for authorizing CIA covert operations there. The US has not publicly detailed evidence supporting its accusations against Maduro regarding drug trafficking.
Maduro has consistently denied these allegations and has accused the US of imperialism and exacerbating Venezuela's economic crisis through sanctions. In 2016, two nephews of Maduro's wife were convicted in a New York federal court for conspiring to import cocaine into the US, with plans to use some funds for his wife's political campaign. They were later released as part of a prisoner exchange with the US.
The initial US strikes were conducted in the Caribbean, which is not considered a primary sea route for drug trafficking compared to the Pacific Ocean, where subsequent strikes occurred. Military analysts have noted that the scale of the current US force exceeds what would typically be required for maritime drug interdiction.