Illustrative image. (Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela)
Tensions continue to mount between Venezuela and the U.S., with both sides preparing for a possible military confrontation.
The crisis began in August when the administration of President Donlad Trump doubled the reward for the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to $50 million on drug trafficking charges then deployed a large naval force with thousands of marines close to the country’s shores on a so-called “counter narco-terror operation”.
Since then, the U.S. military has struck four boats allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, killing at least 21 people.
Many in Washington have been very open about their desire to see a regime change in Caracas as a result of the counter narco-terror operation, sparking warnings of a planned invasion.
Tensions reached a new height on October 7, with Maduro announcing that Venezuelan security forces prevented a “false flag operation” to plant explosives at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas in order to heighten tensions with Washington.
In a televised interview, the Venezuelan president said that two reliable sources, one domestic and one international, had informed the government of the possible attack by “extremist sectors of the local Venezuelan right” and security forces were sent to reinforce the embassy.
The sources “agreed on the possibility that a local terrorist group placed an explosive device at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas,” Maduro said.
“This was backed by a person who will be known soon and asked for by a person who will be known soon, but this is all ongoing,” he continued.
The goal was to lay blame for the attack on Venezuela’s government, which would then “begin an escalation of conflict” with the U.S., he added.
The announcement came as Trump was reported to have called off efforts to reach a diplomatic agreement with Venezuela, telling his special envoy Richard Grenell to stop all outreach with Caracas.
An unnamed senior U.S. official told Reuters that Trump delivered the message to Grenell – who had been leading negotiations with Maduro – during a meeting in the Oval Office on October 2 with senior military leaders.
The official also told the news agency that Trump has not yet determined whether to advance his military campaign from currently attacking alleged drug-carrying boats to a second phase, which reportedly involves attacks on sites in Venezuela.
Later reports from Venezuela revealed that the country has begun effectively preparing for an all-out invasion by the U.S. military.
A photo showing anti-tank “hedgehog” obstacles being laid along the strategic Caracas-La Guaira highway surfaced online.
The Venezuelan military also began a series of exercises focused on the quick evacuation of troops, weapons and documents from bases. Videos of the marines in Catia La Mar conducting such an exercise were released by the military, which also released photos showing national guards at an alternate command post underground.
Click to see full-size image. (X)
Another video that was posted to social networks showed an active YLC-18 radar at El Junquito in the hills west of Caracas.
A photo showing two Buk-M2E air defense launchers in active deployment at La Carlota airbase in Caracas also surfaced online.
Click to see full-size image. (X)
On the other side, the U.S. has been deploying more military assets near Venezuela. A photo published recently revealed the deployment of at least one AC-130J Ghostrider gunship of the U.S. Air Force’s 73rd Special Operations Squadron, which typically operates for the Special Forces Command (SOCOM), at José Aponte de la Torre Airport in Puerto Rico.
Click to see full-size image. (X)
Other photos from Trinidad and Tobago revealed that H-6Ms and MH-60Ms helicopters of the U.S. Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, which also operates for the SOCOM, were flying nearby.
Click to see full-size image. (X)
During a Security Council emergency session on October 10, the United Nations urged the U.S. and Venezuela to de-escalate, calling for restraint and dialogue.
“We continue to emphasize the need for all efforts to counter transnational organized crime to be conducted in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter,” Miroslav Jenca, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia, and the Americas, told the Security Council.
While de-esclation remains possible, it does not seem to be the most likely scenario as for now. The U.S. could keep pressure on Venezuela, without going in.
The U.S. stands to gain a lot from a regime change in Venezuela, which has the world’s largest oil reserves. However, an invasion is very risky. The Venezuelan military is heavily-armed and if just a fraction of the country’s 28-million population decided to resist, the U.S. military could find itself in another endless war that it can’t win.
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the bald jewagle is attracted by the smell of crude oil.
americunts need more crude to grease hillbilly peniz that squirt jizz in their anuz 🤡
uncle sam wading into yet another quagmire. stuck on stupid. 🤮
the amerikunts are going down, hopelessly over extended, financially bankrupt, deindustrialised, politically dysfunctional, infrastructure falling apart, cities now 3rd world slums, socially fractious, on the verge of civil war. coming imminent military adventures in iran and venezuela and confrontations with russia and china are just the final nails in the coffin. chumpo is threatening and extorting the rest of the planet in a futile attempt to resolve intractable financial problems.
needless to say, this will not work. russia and china have now written off the jewsa as a malignant and irrational actor incapable of any agreement or cooperation. the rest of the world is rapidly coming to the same conclusion. the chumpo regime is fast becoming an international pariah, along with its joo puppet masters.
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it’s an outrage that we now have a situation in the world where a country like america feels it has the right to attack a small country just because they want to steal their resources.
why un gave western noble prize to opposition is to put usa in beter position to criticize and accuses madura government.but putin have no glue as usual he ran to please his master trump while terrorize and sabotage
you can start by taking out the cvnt that won the peace prize.