WASHINGTON (FN) \u2014 President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group to Latin America, intensifying a military campaign aimed at countering drug trafficking in the region. The move marks a significant escalation in U.S. force presence and has sparked fears of a broader conflict, particularly in Venezuela.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Pentagon said the deployment, which includes eight Navy ships and 10 F-35 stealth warplanes, is intended to \u201cdisrupt narcotics trafficking and dismantle transnational criminal organizations.\u201d The announcement followed a U.S. strike on a boat allegedly operated by Venezuela\u2019s Tren de Aragua gang, killing six people in the Caribbean Sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the operation, stating, \u201cIf you are a narco-terrorist smuggling drugs in our hemisphere, we will treat you like we treat Al-Qaeda.\u201d He added that the U.S. would continue to \u201cmap, track, and eliminate\u201d drug networks operating in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The campaign, which began in early September, has resulted in at least 43 deaths, according to U.S. figures. However, Washington has yet to provide evidence that the targets were actively smuggling narcotics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Human rights advocates have raised concerns about the legality of the strikes. \u201cUnder international human rights law, the intentional use of lethal force is only permissible as a measure of last resort against an individual representing an imminent threat to life,\u201d said Marta Hurtado Gomez, spokesperson for the UN rights office. \u201cOtherwise, it would constitute a violation of the right to life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused the United States of using anti-narcotics operations as a pretext for regime change. \u201cWe are prepared to defend our sovereignty,\u201d Maduro said, claiming Venezuela has 5,000 Russian-made surface-to-air missiles ready to counter any U.S. incursion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regional leaders have also voiced alarm. Celso Amorim, foreign policy adviser to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, warned that a U.S. military intervention in Venezuela would be \u201cunacceptable\u201d and could destabilize the entire continent. \u201cIt could inflame South America and lead to radicalization of politics on the whole continent,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Flight tracking data showed a U.S. B-1B bomber flying over the Caribbean near Venezuela on Thursday, following a similar show of force last week involving B-52 bombers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the growing tensions, President Trump remained defiant. \u201cThe land is going to be next,\u201d he said Thursday, suggesting that strikes on Venezuelan territory could follow. He also dismissed the need for congressional approval, comparing drug cartels to the Islamic State group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the situation unfolds, international observers warn that the deployment risks triggering a broader geopolitical crisis in the region.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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