Major tensions are brewing between the United States and Venezuela.

Venezuela’s dictator, Nicolas Maduro, has announced he has deployed 15,000 soldiers to the Venezuelan coast after the U.S. Navy sent warships to the Southern Caribbean.

The warships deployed by the United States have over 4,000 sailors and marines and were sent to the region to stop drug cartels.

Bloomberg reported more details on the military tension:

Venezuela vowed to reinforce security along its border with Colombia as President Donald Trump’s administration sends US warships to the southern Caribbean.

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President Nicolas Maduro used his weekly television show to confirm he ordered the deployment of 15,000 “well armed and trained” men and women to the states of Zulia and Tachira. He also singled out Trump’s top diplomat, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, warning the US move risked becoming a debacle.

“Unfortunately this gentleman, with his madness and extremism, could lead President Donald Trump to the worst possible scenario in Latin America and the Caribbean,” Maduro said Monday evening. “We will emerge victorious from this situation.”

The Venezuelan forces will be joined by an unspecified number of boats, aircraft and drones, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said earlier at a news conference.
At least three US warships, carrying more than 4,000 sailors and Marines, are set to approach the region to counter drug cartels. Trump has rattled Latin American leaders by reportedly ordering the Defense Department to prepare for potential military operations.

Previously, the U.S. government announced a $50,000,000 award for the arrest of Maduro:

CBS had more details to report on the Venezuela Navy’s movement:

Venezuela on Tuesday deployed warships and drones to patrol the country’s coastline after the United States dispatched three destroyers to the region to pressure strongman President Nicolas Maduro.

In a video on social media, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino announced a “significant” drone deployment as well as naval patrols along its Caribbean coast, including “larger vessels further north in our territorial waters.”
The move comes amid escalating tensions with Washington, which sent three guided-missile destoyers and 4,000 Marines towards Venezuela last week to curb drug trafficking.

On Tuesday, a U.S. source told AFP that President Donald Trump was dispatching two more ships to the Caribbean to crack down on drug cartels.

A guided missile cruiser, the USS Erie, and a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, the USS Newport News, are due in the region next week, the source familiar with the move told AFP on condition of anonymity.

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