U.S. President Donald Trump, in the name of “fighting the Latin American drug trafficking group,” has deployed a two-way squadron to the Caribbean waters near Venezuela, citing U.S. media sources, according to which the vessels carry about 4,500 soldiers, including 2,200 Marines.
▲ U.S. Navy sends troops to Venezuelan coast
U.S. security expert Evan Ellis, a Latin American expert at the U.S. Army War Academy, who served in the Trump administration during his first term, said the size and force deployment of the troops were not very consistent with the surface claimed drug-seeking reason, and he was concerned that it could evolve into another “invasion of Panama.”
The U.S. Navy's "big soldiers press the border"
White House press secretary called it "anti-drug"
He also called Maduro the "fugitive leader of a drug cartel."
According to intelligence summaries, it can be judged that the troops sent by the US military include three Aegis-class missile destroyers (USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, and USS Sampson), three amphibious assault ships (USS Iwo Jima, USS San Antonio, and USS Fort Lauderdale). In addition, the cruiser USS Lake Erie and the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Newport News were also incorporated into this force. Among them, some ships have already sailed near the Venezuelan coastline, and some are rushing from the Caribbean to designated locations. In addition, the U.S. Navy also dispatched P-8 Poseidon patrol aircraft for reconnaissance.
The White House said that this military deployment is part of the Trump administration's strategy to combat drugs. White House Press Secretary Levitt said that Trump was "ready to use all the power of the United States to stop drugs from flowing into our country". She also tried to deny Maduro's legitimacy, calling him "the fugitive leader of a drug cartel".
U.S. Department of Defense spokesman Sean Parnell said fighting drugs requires "an overall government effort and comprehensive coordination with regional partners." He added that Trump wanted to "eliminate the ability of these drug cartels to threaten U.S. territory, safety and security," but declined to give details of future actions.
According to previous reports, Trump secretly signed an executive order allowing the use of military force against Latin American drug trafficking groups classified as “foreign terrorist organizations” and instructed the Defense Department to prepare plans.
Venezuela is responding to the situation
Drones will be deployed on a large scale
“We will mobilize 4.5 million militiamen to defend the country.”
Venezuelan Defense Minister Lopez said this week that Venezuela will send military ships and drones to patrol the country’s coastline in response to growing tensions with the United States.The country’s Defense Ministry released a video announcing its mass deployment of drones and naval patrol along the country’s Caribbean coastline, as well as the “deployment of large ships further north of our territorial waters.”
▲ Venezuela builds up forces
Maduro announced that he will mobilize 4.5 million militiamen to defend the country. On August 27 local time, Maduro delivered a speech saying: “We will never bow our heads to anyone. Today will not, nor will it be in the future.
Analysis of weapons.
Probably an arrest of Maduro.
Unconventional drug missions.
Evan Ellis served as national security adviser during Trump's first term and was involved in the development of U.S. policy on Latin America.
Elise said on August 28 that he believes this would be a “arrest operation” against Maduro in terms of the size and array of the fleet’s deployments, rather than a conventional anti-drug mission.
Ellis pointed out that the logic of the U.S. Navy’s deployment of the fleet is not to engage in surface combat, but to prepare for subsequent “dispatch of forces from the air and from the ground.” These ships are equipped with tactical cruise missiles, naval troops and helicopters, capable of supporting rapid landing or precision strikes, suitable for conducting limited-scale military operations, such as capturing high-value targets.
The “Invasion of Panama”
One detail leaves experts guessing
The US military may also be "bluffing"
In his comments, Ellis referred to the 1989 invasion of Panama (code-named Operation Justice), when the US military arrested Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega for drug enforcement. The operation involved a total of 27,000 troops and ships. At the time, the US government also accused Noriega of trafficking drugs into the United States. The Trump administration has labeled Maduro a "drug terrorist" and increased the reward from $25 million to $50 million in August 2025.
Mr. Ellis said that while there were hints of a possible repeat of the "invasion of Panama", he was unsure whether Mr. Trump would really make up his mind. He believed the US military was probably "bluffing". For example, Mr. Ellis cited the fact that the deployment of the US nuclear submarines, known as the "Silent Fleet", could be publicly reported in the media, suggesting that it was probably just an act of intimidation and deterrence.
Ellis pointed out that the US military operation in Panama in 1989 was authorized by Congress in the United States, but there is no similar authorization for this operation. In addition, Maduro's international influence is much higher than that of Noriega, and any conflict would have far-reaching geopolitical implications.
Red Star News Press Release