U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited sailors aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier in the Latin American region on Thursday, amid a military buildup by President Donald Trump’s administration that has heightened tensions with Venezuela.
In a video released by the Pentagon, Hegseth is seen addressing the crew, wishing them a happy Thanksgiving and offering prayers for the two National Guard soldiers who were shot in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
Since September, U.S. forces have carried out at least 21 strikes against suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and off the Pacific coast of Latin America, resulting in at least 83 fatalities.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly claimed that the U.S. military buildup is aimed at removing him from power.
The visit comes as President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the U.S. will "very soon" start taking action to stop suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers on land.
"You probably noticed that people aren't wanting to be delivering by sea, and we'll be starting to stop them by land also. The land is easier, but that's going to start very soon," Trump said, speaking virtually with U.S. military service members.
The Venezuelan communications ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Trump administration has been weighing Venezuela-related options to combat what it has portrayed as President Nicolas Maduro's role in supplying illegal drugs that have killed Americans. Maduro has denied having any links to the illegal drug trade.
U.S. forces in the region so far have focused on counter-narcotics operations, even though the assembled firepower far outweighs anything needed for them.
U.S. troops have carried out at least 21 strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific since September, killing at least 83 people.
Reports of looming action have proliferated in recent weeks as the U.S. military has deployed forces to the Caribbean amid worsening relations with Venezuela.
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European Union and Western Balkans leaders met in Brussels on Wednesday for a high-level summit aimed at strengthening strategic ties and advancing the EU enlargement agenda.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered a strong message against antisemitism on Wednesday during a Hanukkah celebration in Brussels.
Uzbekistan has increased up electricity exports to Tajikistan as part of wider regional efforts to stabilise energy supplies during periods of seasonal shortage and reduced water availability.
Iran has summoned the ambassador of Republic of Cyprus Petros Nacouzis over remarks made by his country regarding Iran’s territorial integrity.
Cambodia must be the first to declare a ceasefire in the ongoing border conflict, Thailand said on Tuesday (16 December), as fighting continued despite earlier claims that hostilities would stop and at least 52 people have been killed on both sides.
Schools across Cambodia and Thailand were forced to close on Monday (15 December) as border clashes between the two countries escalated, with the death toll reaching at least 40 and hundreds of thousands of people displaced, according to officials and local media.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that his administration is examining whether Israel violated the Gaza ceasefire agreement by conducting an airstrike on Saturday (13 December) that killed Hamas leader Raad Saad.
The latest clashes between Thailand and Cambodia mark a dangerous escalation in one of Southeast Asia’s oldest and most sensitive disputes.
In the complex world of international diplomacy, the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan have raised significant questions about the role of third-party mediation.
Germany has confirmed a 43 million tonne lithium carbonate equivalent resource in the Altmark region, fuelling expectations that Europe could reduce strategic dependence on China as electric vehicle demand and clean transport targets accelerate.
EU leaders meeting with Western Balkan counterparts in Brussels are working to refocus the bloc’s agenda on enlargement, with discussions heavily featuring Ukraine support and regional security.
European Union and Western Balkans leaders met in Brussels on Wednesday for a high-level summit aimed at strengthening strategic ties and advancing the EU enlargement agenda.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered a strong message against antisemitism on Wednesday during a Hanukkah celebration in Brussels.
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