Part 2/10:
In August, the Trump administration secretly authorized the U.S. military to employ force against Latin American drug cartels classified as foreign terrorist organizations. To combat what it perceives as a significant threat from drug traffickers, the U.S. deployed warships into Venezuelan waters, signaling an aggressive stance toward the regime. This move was met with strong opposition from Maduro, who labeled the deployment as an illegal attempt at regime change. The tensions intensified when two Venezuelan aircraft flew over a U.S. Navy ship engaged in counter-drug operations—a move described by the Pentagon as highly provocative.