موقع وجه أفريقيا موقع وجه أفريقيا هو موقع مهتم بمتابعة التطورات في القارة الأفريقية
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Sahar Ragab
Tensions between the United States and Venezuela are escalating sharply following a significant U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean Sea — the largest in decades — as Washington says it is targeting drug trafficking networks, while Caracas accuses the U.S. of preparing for regime change.
Over the past two months, the U.S. military has deployed warships, fighter jets, bombers, Marines, drones, and surveillance aircraft across the region. According to the Pentagon, the move is part of a regional counter-narcotics operation aimed at curbing drug routes allegedly running from Venezuela to the United States.
The Venezuelan government, however, has denounced the operation as a “covert war” designed to destabilize the country and overthrow President Nicolás Maduro. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said in an official statement that Venezuela views the military buildup as a “direct threat to national sovereignty,” adding that its armed forces are “on high alert to defend the country from any aggression.”
The latest escalation comes amid long-standing U.S. sanctions targeting Venezuela’s oil and financial sectors, first imposed in 2019, as Washington continues to pressure Caracas to implement democratic reforms and hold free elections.
Analysts say the U.S. deployment sends a dual message of deterrence and pressure, combining military signaling with diplomatic leverage, especially after recent talks between the two sides failed to produce concrete progress on sanctions relief.
Meanwhile, Venezuela has sought to rally support from Russia, China, and Latin American allies, portraying the U.S. actions as part of a broader “imperialist agenda.” Observers note that the standoff evokes echoes of the Cold War era, though now shaped by modern geopolitical rivalries involving energy security, sovereignty, and regional influence.
