U.S. and Venezuela jam GPS signals in Caribbean

The United States and Venezuela have been jamming GPS signals in parts of the Caribbean, raising safety concerns for civilian air and maritime traffic, as tensions between the two countries escalate, according to The New York Times.

The standoff between U.S. President Donald Trump and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has reportedly triggered an increase in electronic warfare across the region. Some U.S. warships deployed to the Caribbean in recent months have been jamming GPS signals in their vicinity, according to an anonymous U.S. official and data analysed by Stanford University.

In retaliation, Venezuela’s armed forces have also blocked positioning signals around critical infrastructure, including military bases, oil refineries, and power plants, viewing the measure as a response to mounting U.S. military pressure.

Experts note that the simultaneous use of jamming tactics by both countries has intensified the range and impact of the interference, potentially disrupting GPS signals used for civilian transportation. 

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The Trump administration maintains that its naval deployments, including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, are intended to counter drug trafficking operations allegedly orchestrated by the Venezuelan government.

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