Part 9/11:
Venezuela, under Nicolás Maduro’s government, is exhibiting a defiant posture by launching three days of large-scale military exercises dubbed "Sovereign Caribbean." Featuring a dozen ships, 22 aircraft, armed drones, and hundreds of troops, the exercises come in response to recent U.S. naval strikes targeting suspected drug traffickers believed to be linked to Maduro and his regime.
The U.S. has taken a vigorous approach to curbing drug trafficking, notably targeting the Trendoragua (TDA) cartel with multiple strikes, including a recent incident that killed suspected traffickers. President Trump publicly accused Maduro of harboring violent narco-traffickers and emphasized his determination to dismantle their operations, even as he issued a $50 million bounty on Maduro himself.