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The current campaign, however, departs from ideological battles of the Cold War era, focusing instead on what the White House describes as fighting "naroterrorism." The framing positions drug traffickers and their alleged state sponsors as irregular warfare adversaries, legitimizing more direct and aggressive responses.
A Potential Turning Point
This escalation signifies a profound shift in U.S. policy in Latin America—moving from economic sanctions and covert intelligence-sharing to a hybrid of military and clandestine operations aimed at regime change or destabilization. The implications extend beyond Venezuela, signaling the potential for increased regional instability, and raising questions about sovereignty, legal oversight, and the risk of unintended consequences.