Saralnama
In August 2025, the US military, under President Donald Trump's administration, conducted a kinetic strike on a vessel near Caracas, Venezuela, allegedly carrying large quantities of drugs and linked to the Tren de Aragua terrorist group. This action followed the deployment of US warships off Venezuela's coast aimed at combating drug cartels, particularly targeting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom the US accuses of leading a drug trafficking network known as the 'Cártel de los Soles.' Maduro condemned the US naval presence and vowed to resist aggression, declaring a 'republic in arms' if US forces advanced. The US has doubled the bounty on Maduro to $50 million, labeling his regime as a significant narcotics threat. Despite these military moves, the US has not publicly threatened a full invasion. The situation escalates longstanding tensions between Washington and Caracas amid accusations of drug trafficking and political instability in Venezuela. (Updated 3 Sep 2025, 13:58 IST; source: link)