The latest spike in tensions between Washington and Caracas, which saw the US deploy at least seven warships to the southern Caribbean, stems from a dramatic move earlier last month. On August 7, US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a $50 million reward for information leading to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who has faced formal US drug trafficking charges since 2020. Bondi described Maduro as “one of the most powerful drug traffickers in the world” and a direct threat to US national security.
Caracas has consistently rejected these accusations, but within hours of Bondi’s statement, more than 4,000 US military personnel were mobilized to the Caribbean. Days later, additional submarines, ships, and aerial surveillance units followed, fueling an unexpectedly rapid escalation.
The timing has raised eyebrows, coming so soon after the Trump administration and Maduro’s government struck a deal on a prisoner swap and restarted Venezuelan oil exports through Chevron. Analysts suggest that the move exposes divisions within the White House between hardliners opposed to Chavismo and officials seeking to avoid a risky confrontation. What stands out is the shift in focus: Washington is now confronting Maduro primarily over alleged drug trafficking ties, not his failure to restore democracy.
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