US Defense Department officials said two F-16 fighters, Thursday, over the US destroyer USS Jason Dunham, describing the incident as a “parade of strength.” The destroyer is part of the recent American warship fleet sent to the region, allegedly targeting criminal organizations and “Narko-terror” operations.
Washington responded and warnings to the Pentagon
It was not clear whether the American destroyer took any reaction to the flight, but the Ministry of Defense later confirmed through a statement on the “X” platform that two Venezuelan planes “flew near an American navy ship in international waters. The statement added that “this provocative step aims to obstruct the anti -terrorism and drugs operations,” warning that “the cartel that runs Venezuela is advised not to try to obstruct or deter these operations.”
Political backgrounds and rising tension
The spread of American ships comes off Venezuela in the context of US President Donald Trump’s pledge to tighten the campaign on drug smuggling networks, amid an escalation of tension with Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro. The American administration accuses Maduro of cooperation with drug gangs for smuggling to the United States, and recently raised the value of the reward at the head to 50 million dollars, while Caracas refused the accusations and described the American ships as a “bloody and criminal threat.”
Rising marine confrontation
Maduro replied by deploying drones and warships to protect the coast, while Washington said on Tuesday that she had targeted a boat that was transporting drugs from Venezuela and killed 11 people on board accusing them of belonging to the “Trine de Araga” gang. Foreign Minister Marco Rubio and President Trump confirmed that the operation came as part of the anti -drug and terrorist efforts associated with Venezuela.
