Venezuela Condemns US Military Drills in the Caribbean

The Venezuelan government has condemned the US military exercises in the Caribbean, calling them a "provocation" and linking them to the CIA. According to Caracas, Washington has deployed seven warships to the region, officially for operations against drug cartels.

The arrival of the American destroyer USS Gravely in Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the planned exercises, provoked a reaction from Venezuela. The Maduro government claims to have arrested mercenaries linked to the CIA.

US President Donald Trump accuses Nicolás Maduro of involvement in drug trafficking, which Maduro denies. Caracas claims that Washington is using drug smuggling as a pretext to impose regime change and gain access to the country's oil reserves.

Since the beginning of September, the US has carried out airstrikes against ships in the Caribbean and the Pacific, resulting in the deaths of at least 43 people, according to AFP. Experts express doubts about the legality of these strikes in international waters.