US Conducts Military Operations Near Venezuela

The US conducted a strike on an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people, as part of an effort to cripple the operations of drug cartels. The strike was carried out at the direction of President Trump, who has been vocal in his criticism of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The Trump administration has reported over a dozen such strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean, killing over 50 people. Some lawmakers have criticized the strikes, saying the White House has not provided enough evidence the boats were smuggling drugs.

The US is likely responsible for jamming GPS signals off the coast of Venezuela, according to an expert, amid escalating tensions in the region. The disruption to navigation signals has been detected around Trinidad and Tobago, where a US warship, the USS Gravely, was stationed. The US has not commented on the allegations. The jamming is believed to be defensive, possibly to counter the use of drones by Venezuela. The USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier is moving closer to Venezuela, and the US has carried out lethal strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in the region. Russia has also been involved, with a sanctioned Russian airline operating a cargo plane that landed in Caracas.

The Trump administration held a briefing with lawmakers to address concerns about its military campaign against suspected drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Pacific. Despite efforts by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to reassure lawmakers, Democrats remained skeptical and expressed concerns about the legal basis, scope, and objectives of the mission. The administration's justification for the strikes was deemed 'thin' and setting a 'dangerous precedent.' Democrats questioned the strategy behind the strikes and the potential for future land attacks against Venezuela, with some senior advisers pushing for regime change.