Post by : Rameen Ariff

On Thursday, two US B-52 bombers conducted operations off the coast of Venezuela, flying over the Caribbean Sea in a show of military might amid Washington's increasing focus on combating alleged drug trafficking in the region.

Flight tracking service Flightradar24 revealed that the bombers flew along Venezuela's northern coastline, circled northeast of Caracas, and then returned to the sea. This incident marks the fourth occasion since mid-October that US military aircraft have approached Venezuelan airspace, with prior missions including both B-52s and B-1B bombers.

Heightened anxiety in Caracas is linked to the perception that the US military's Caribbean activities may carry ulterior political motives. While Washington states its military operations are strictly to disrupt drug trafficking routes, Venezuelan leaders contend that the US strategically employs anti-drug initiatives as a cover for intentions of regime change.

In the preceding weeks, America has bolstered its naval and aerial presence in the region, deploying the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group to Latin America, alongside F-35 stealth fighters based in Puerto Rico and several Navy ships operating in Caribbean waters.

Since early September, US forces have conducted 17 strikes against vessels suspected of drug smuggling—16 boats and one semi-submersible—resulting in approximately 67 fatalities, based on official data. However, US authorities have yet to present solid evidence demonstrating that these vessels were indeed involved in narcotics trafficking or posed direct threats.

The ongoing US military presence near Venezuelan shores has escalated geopolitical tensions significantly. President Nicolás Maduro's government has accused the US of attempting to undermine his administration, while US officials maintain that their focus is firmly on “counter-narcotics operations.”

As military activities increase, the stand-off between the US and Venezuela grows more complex, with the skies above the Caribbean emerging as a key arena in this evolving regional power dynamic.

#Global News #World