Venezuela has begun large-scale military exercises in the Caribbean Sea amid rising tensions with the United States, with Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez saying the aim of the maneuvers is to strengthen defense and demonstrate sovereignty, DPA reported, BTA reported.
More than 2,500 servicemen are taking part in the exercises on the Caribbean island of La Orchilla, about 180 kilometers off the coast of Venezuela, supported by 12 warships, 22 aircraft and 20 boats of the Bolivarian National Militia and artillery, Padrino told state television.
The Bolivarian Militia is part of the Venezuelan Armed Forces, which includes reservists, members of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela, workers from state enterprises and retirees who participate alongside regular forces in The maneuvers.
Padrino stressed that the three-day exercises will include rehearsals of landings, air defense, drone operations, electronic warfare and special forces missions, describing the concept of the maneuvers as a manifestation of an "armed and prepared nation".
The exercises are taking place against the backdrop of growing tensions with Washington. US President Donald Trump has accused the government of President Nicolas Maduro of tolerating criminal groups with ties to US territory, citing the transnational drug cartel "Tren de Aragua", which Washington designated a foreign terrorist organization earlier this year.
Maduro, for his part, has accused Washington of increasing tensions by deploying warships near Venezuela and calling the US military presence in the Caribbean "the biggest threat" for a century.
On Tuesday, Trump said U.S. forces had struck a ship suspected of carrying drugs from Venezuela, killing three members of a drug cartel believed to be from Venezuela. Washington says its forces have struck three such ships in recent days and killed 11 people in earlier operations. Several U.N. human rights experts have condemned the deadly strikes as violations of international maritime law.