Venezuela is preparing a 'massive mobilization' of its military as the U.S.’s largest warship arrives in the Caribbean Sea after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a military buildup in the region.

Caracas

The USS Gerald Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, has arrived in the Caribbean as part of a U.S. counter-drug operation, joining other warships in the region. The U.S. claims to have targeted at least 20 suspected drug boats since September, resulting in at least 76 deaths, but has provided limited evidence that these vessels were involved in drug trafficking.

International backlash has followed, with France and British intelligence agencies criticizing the operations as non-compliant with international law and cutting off cooperation with the U.S. The U.S. has offered a $50 million reward for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's capture, declaring him wanted for narco-trafficking. In response, Maduro has mobilized Venezuelan forces, preparing for potential conflict.

Venezuela readying military as U.S.’s largest warship arrives

With USS Gerald Ford now in the Caribbean, the biggest aircraft carrier in the world, joining a fleet of other warships, Washington has upped the ante. This is a counter-drug operation. The president's ordered it in defense of our country. It continues, it's ongoing. It can stop tomorrow if they stop sending drug boats. The U.S. has struck at least 20 of what it says are these boats in the Caribbean and East Pacific, killing at least 76 people since September. But it's provided little evidence that the targets actually carry drugs, now prompting international backlash. Those military operations are not compliant with international law. From France and from British intelligence agencies, which have cut off cooperation with the U.S. on suspected drug trafficking vessels. This lack of intelligence support from Britain is going to have a significant impact on the accuracy of the intelligence that the U.S. uses in prosecuting the so-called war on drugs. Washington denies anything's happened with intelligence to jeopardize its ability to act. President Donald Trump suggests these operations also target Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. They've been treating us very badly, not only on drugs. They've dumped hundreds of thousands of people into our country that we didn't want. U.S. officials are reportedly proposing an attack on Venezuela, though Trump has publicly rejected it. Still, the U.S. has offered a $50 million reward for Maduro's capture, declaring him wanted for narco-trafficking. Maduro's response to all this? This week he mobilized Venezuelan forces to be ready for war. Sasha Petrusik, CBC News, Toronto.

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Venezuela has announced a "massive mobilization" of its military forces, as the U.S. continues its military buildup in the Caribbean. The announcement comes in the wake of U.S. strikes that have targeted at least 20 vessels in the waters around Latin America, killing dozens of people.

Venezuela mobilizing military as U.S. builds up military presence

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