By Zoila Palma: The United States carried out its largest military show of force near Venezuela on Thursday, just days before Washington is set to label President Nicolás Maduro and key allies as members of a foreign terrorist organization.
The designation—targeting the so-called “Cartel de los Soles”—is expected to take effect Monday and will provide the Trump administration with new sanctions authority, though legal experts note it does not explicitly permit the use of lethal force, CNN reports.
Despite that limitation, senior U.S. officials have signaled that the move could broaden military options against the Maduro government.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the designation “gives more tools…to give options to the President,” underscoring growing tensions as the administration continues to deploy military assets throughout the region.
While President Trump has left open the possibility of diplomatic talks, there is no indication that negotiations toward de-escalation have advanced.
Thursday’s display included at least six U.S. aircraft off Venezuela’s coast over several hours, among them an F/A-18E fighter jet, a B-52 strategic bomber, and an RC-135 reconnaissance plane conducting surveillance patterns near the eastern border. U.S. Air Forces Southern Command described the operation as a “bomber attack demo” aimed at deterring illicit trafficking, though the timing comes as Washington increases political and military pressure on Caracas.
The demonstration followed weeks of U.S. training missions involving B-52s and B-1 bombers operating increasingly close to Venezuelan territory.
The post International News: U.S. stages major military display near Venezuela ahead of terrorism designation for Maduro appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: The United States carried out its largest military show of force near Venezuela on Thursday, just days before Washington is set to label President Nicolás Maduro and key allies as members of a foreign terrorist organization. The designation—targeting the so-called “Cartel de los Soles”—is expected to take effect Monday and will provide
The post International News: U.S. stages major military display near Venezuela ahead of terrorism designation for Maduro appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
