US builds up forces in Caribbean as officials, experts, ask why

Reuters ^ | August 29, 20252:42 PM CDTUpdated August 30, 2025 | Idrees Ali, Patricia Zengerle and Andrea Shalal

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Summary

• U.S. naval buildup exceeds usual deployments in Caribbean
• Venezuelan officials claim U.S. targets their government, not drug cartels
• Experts suggest U.S. aims to pressure Maduro regime, not just combat drugs

WASHINGTON, Aug 29 (Reuters) - A large buildup of U.S. naval forces in and around the Southern Caribbean has officials in Caracas and experts in the United States asking: is the move aimed at combating drug cartels, as the Trump administration has suggested, or is it for something else entirely?

Seven U.S. warships, along with one nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, are either in the region or are expected to be there soon, bringing along more than 4,500 sailors and marines.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said combating drug cartels is a central goal for his administration and U.S. officials have told Reuters that the military efforts aim to address threats from those cartels.

Stephen Miller, deputy White House chief of staff, said on Friday the military buildup was aimed to "combat and dismantle drug trafficking organizations, criminal cartels and these foreign terrorist organizations in our hemisphere."

But it is unclear exactly how the U.S. military presence would disrupt the drug trade.

Among other things, most of the seaborne drug trade travels to the United States via the Pacific, not the Atlantic, where the U.S. forces are, and much of what arrives via the Caribbean comes on clandestine flights.

Venezuelan officials believe their government might be the real target.

In early August, the United States doubled its reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to $50 million over allegations of drug trafficking and links to criminal groups.

Maduro, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and the country's...

[BenLurkin]

“Experts”

[DesertRhino]

Yeah, that’s a real brain teaser. Wonder what it could be? Maybe we’re going to invade Cancun? Or maybe its fleet week in Barbados… Or maybe, just maybe, it should have something to do with Venezuela? I don’t know, just spitballing here.

[Williams]

Oh please.

[Jonty30]

Venezuela.

[toddausauras]

Maduro says they’re attacking his government not the cartels. What the f is the difference?

[KC Burke]

FAFO

[Da Coyote]

Awaiting information from a trustable and honest source. Note: Mainstream media, especially Reuters, is neither.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

https://x.com/i/grok?conversation=1962280892757336172

The United States has initiated a significant military buildup in the southern Caribbean Sea as of August 2025, deploying air and naval assets under U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). This includes the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, comprising over 4,500 sailors and Marines aboard ships such as the USS Iwo Jima, USS San Antonio, and USS Fort Lauderdale; additional warships like destroyers and a guided-missile cruiser; a nuclear-powered attack submarine (e.g., USS Newport News); and several P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. These forces are operating in international waters and airspace near Venezuela, with deployments beginning in mid-August and continuing into late August.Official U.S. Rationale: Countering Drug Cartels and "Narco-Terrorism"The Trump administration has explicitly stated that the buildup is part of a broader counter-narcotics strategy to combat Latin American drug trafficking organizations (DTOs), which have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) since February 2025. Key targets include Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel, the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, and the so-called "Cartel de los Soles" (allegedly involving Venezuelan officials). President Trump signed a secret directive in early August ordering the Pentagon to prepare military options against these groups, emphasizing the use of "every element of American power" to stem drug flows into the U.S., reduce migration, and secure the southern border.

• Strategic Context: The southern Caribbean is a known transit route for cocaine and other drugs from South America, often via clandestine flights or smaller vessels, though the UN Office on Drugs and Crime notes that 74% of maritime cocaine trafficking occurs via the Pacific route. U.S. officials, including White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, have described the deployment as aimed at "dismantling drug trafficking organizations, criminal cartels, and foreign terrorist organizations in our hemisphere." The assets provide options for ISR, interdiction support (in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard), and potential targeted strikes if authorized.
• Recent Escalations: In early August, the U.S. doubled its bounty on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to $50 million, accusing him of leading the Cartel de los Soles and facilitating drug trafficking worth over $700 million in seized assets (though independent analyses question the direct links). This aligns with Trump's campaign promises to aggressively target cartels, similar to his previous administration's actions.

The deployment is described by some U.S. defense officials as primarily a "show of force" to deter traffickers and signal resolve, rather than an immediate offensive operation. However, it equips commanders with versatile capabilities, including helicopter and aviation support for evacuations or rapid response, and Tomahawk missile platforms for precision strikes if needed.Alternative Perspectives and Concerns: Pressure on Venezuela?While the U.S. frames the buildup as anti-drug focused, Venezuelan officials and some independent experts question this narrative, suggesting it may be a pretext for broader geopolitical pressure or even regime change efforts against Maduro's government. Caracas has filed complaints with the UN, accusing the U.S. of violating the UN Charter and preparing "kinetic action" (military intervention). In response, Maduro mobilized 4.5 million members of Venezuela's National Bolivarian Militia for nationwide defense drills, declaring that "no empire will touch the sacred soil of Venezuela."

• Venezuelan Viewpoint: Officials like Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, and UN Ambassador Samuel Moncada dismiss the drug allegations as "ridiculous" fabrications to justify aggression. They point to Venezuela's history of expelling the DEA in 2005 for alleged espionage and claim the country has dismantled its own trafficking networks. Maduro's government views the naval presence—positioned just off Venezuela's 2,500-mile coastline—as a direct threat, especially amid ongoing U.S. sanctions since 2017 and past mercenary plots like "Operation Gideon" in 2020.
• Expert Analysis: Analysts like David Smilde (Tulane University) describe it as "gunboat diplomacy" to exert "maximum pressure" on Maduro's regime, potentially forcing negotiations or internal collapse, rather than purely disrupting drugs (given the Pacific's dominance in sea routes and reliance on air smuggling in the Caribbean). Christopher Hernandez-Roy (Center for Strategic and International Studies) notes the scale is "too big to be just about drugs" but "too small for an invasion" (comparable to the 1989 Panama operation, which involved 28,000 troops), suggesting it could enable limited strikes or serve as a deterrent/show of dominance toward regional players like Mexico and Colombia. Some U.S. voices, including defense officials, express internal concerns that Marines may not be optimally trained for drug interdictions, relying instead on Coast Guard expertise.
• Regional Reactions: Caribbean nations are divided. Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar endorsed the mission, offering territorial access to counter cartels and potential Venezuelan aggression toward Guyana. Guyana expressed "grave concern" over narco-terrorism's regional threat. However, allies like Cuba, Nicaragua, and Mexico have condemned it as destabilizing, with Latin American organizations warning of threats to peace.

Broader ImplicationsThis buildup marks the largest U.S. naval deployment to the Caribbean since 2020, exceeding routine Coast Guard patrols. It occurs amid hurricane season (e.g., Category 4 Hurricane Erin in late August), which could complicate operations. While no invasion appears imminent, the ambiguity fuels tensions, echoing past U.S.-Venezuela frictions under Trump's first term (e.g., recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaidó in 2019). Venezuelan public sentiment mixes anxiety with skepticism, given repeated unfulfilled invasion rumors over a decade. The operation's long-term effectiveness against drugs remains debated, as cartels adapt via air routes and Pacific paths, but it underscores Trump's "America First" focus on hemispheric security threats.

[Libloather]

Venezuelan officials claim U.S. targets their government, not drug cartels

Same thing?

[philman_36]

...officials in Caracas and experts in the United States...

Until these people GO ON RECORD with their comments this is all contrived BS from "anonymous sources" who may or may not even exist!

[Texas Eagle]

To fight Capt. Barbossa and his evil undead pirates
, you morons. Don’t worry about it.

[Paladin2]

We’re paying for The Navy, why not use it?

[Leaning Right]

I don’t know why US naval forces are there. But I do know it would be more impressive if a battleship were also present. Reactivate the Mighty Mo!

(Just kidding. Maybe.)

[TalBlack]

Yeah, EXPERTS. And who did these EXPERTS vote for? And what do the EXPERTS know what is going on in the administration? Seems the press, none of whom voted for Trump, can pull an EXPERT in any subject out of their ass anytime they want.

[gundog]

Oil exports to Russia?

[Mariner]

So there’s around 350 Tomahawks on station, with air cover.

Do these cartel members know that every phone call, and every movement is tracked?

US knows the location of every facility and most leaders.

It’s going to be an enormous hit on the drug cartels.

[ComputerGuy]

Maybe because we own the place.

[Openurmind]

All the “source debunking” in the world is not going to change the reality of these numbers:

“Seven U.S. warships, along with one nuclear-powered fast attack submarine”.

All just for drugs? I don’t think so... Have to be pretty damned ignorant to fall for that one...

[ansel12]

U.S. guided-missile cruiser spotted crossing the Panama Canal after warships deployed to Venezuela
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-guided-missile-cruiser-panama-canal-warships-deployed-venezuela/