For two months, the US military has been building up a force of warships, fighter jets, bombers, marines, drones and spy planes in the Caribbean Sea. It is the largest deployment there for decades.
Long-range bomber planes, B-52s, have carried out bomber attack demonstrations off the coast of Venezuela. Trump has authorised the deployment of the CIA to Venezuela, and the world's largest aircraft carrier is being sent to the region.
The US claims it has killed dozens of people in strikes on small vessels from Venezuela, which it alleges carry narcotics and narco-terrorists, without providing evidence or details about those on board.
The strikes have drawn condemnation in the region and experts have questioned their legality. They are being framed by the US as a war on drug trafficking, but many believe it is an intimidation campaign aimed at removing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
Dr. Christopher Sabatini, a senior fellow for Latin America at the Chatham House think tank, notes the military buildup is intended to deliver a show of strength designed to create fear within the Venezuelan military and encourage movements against Maduro.
As of October 23, ten US military ships have been identified in the region, including guided missile destroyers and amphibious assault ships.
The US has escalated its bounty for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50 million, but this initiative has not resulted in notable defections within his inner circle. Despite the economic sanctions, the military’s loyalty remains intact as analysts believe they might seek assurances against prosecution before acting against Maduro.
Critics, including José Ignacio Hernández of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, argue that for Venezuela's elites, the bounty fails to compensate for potential losses related to corruption and loyalty to the regime.
While Trump has framed the military actions as a response to drug trafficking, experts have pointed out that the operational focus and intelligence do not align with this justification given Venezuela's limited role in the drug trade.
As military assets continue to accumulate, the long-term intentions of the Trump administration regarding Venezuela raise critical questions about the potential for direct intervention and the strategies being pursued against Maduro's regime.
