Massive military deployment in Venezuela coincides with arrival of US aircraft carrier off coast of Latin America

The Venezuelan army announced a large-scale military deployment across the country, coinciding with the arrival of a US aircraft carrier off the coast of Latin America, which Washington says is intended to support anti-drug trafficking operations.

Venezuelan media broadcast statements by senior military officers in several states, accompanied by images showing extensive military exercises.

In the same context, the US Southern Command said that the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, whose deployment was ordered about three weeks ago, has entered the command’s area of ​​operations, which includes Latin America and the Caribbean.

Since last August, Washington has maintained a military presence in the Caribbean Sea, including six warships, asserting that its objective is to combat drug trafficking into the United States.

According to US reported, twenty airstrikes targeting vessels suspected of carrying drugs have resulted in the deaths of at least 76 people.

Venezuelan authorities, however, accuse the United States of using anti-drug operations as a pretext to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and forcibly change the regime.