Gunboat Diplomacy

U.S. Destroyers in Venezuela Waters: A Political Distraction?

The United States is deploying three Aegis guided-missile destroyers to waters off Venezuela to support counter-narcotics efforts. These vessels, including the USS Gravely, the USS Jason Dunham, and the USS Sampson, are expected to arrive soon and will be deployed for several months. This deployment is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to combat drug cartels, which it blames for the influx of illicit drugs into the U.S. and for violence in some U.S. cities. The Venezuelan government, while denying U.S. accusations, has responded with the Venezuelan president announcing the planned deployment of more than 4.5 million militia members around the country.

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