US Deploys 16,000 Troops in Caribbean Near Venezuela

The United States has launched a large-scale military deployment in the Caribbean involving an estimated 16,000 personnel, according to a report by The Washington Post.

The figures include around 10,000 soldiers and 6,000 sailors, based on official Pentagon data as of 31 October. These numbers reportedly exclude American forces stationed in Puerto Rico.

Currently, eight US Navy warships and a nuclear-powered submarine are operating in the region, while the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is expected to arrive next week.

The deployment reflects a sharp increase in American military activity off the coast of Venezuela throughout September and October, during which Washington carried out multiple operations targeting boats it claimed were involved in drug smuggling.

Media reports suggest that the US administration is now considering expanding its operations to include potential strikes inside Venezuelan territory against what it describes as drug trafficking networks.

In a related development, Newsweek reported on Friday citing satellite imagery that the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima, accompanied by supporting vessels, has been positioned roughly 200 kilometers from Venezuela’s La Orchila Island, a range considered suitable for possible military operations.