Venezuela says 66 children ‘kidnapped' by the United States
Caracas is demanding the children be handed over to Venezuelan authorities so they can be repatriated.
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New Straits Times
19 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Trump deploys three warships off Venezuela amid drug crackdown
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump is deploying three warships off the coast of Venezuela as part of efforts to curb drug trafficking, a source familiar with the move said on Wednesday. The deployment comes as the Trump administration steps up pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, last week doubling its bounty on drug charges against the leftist strongman to US$50 million. The three Aegis-class guided missile destroyers are heading to the waters off Venezuela, the US source told AFP on condition of anonymity. US media reported that Washington was also planning to send 4,000 Marines to the region. Washington, which does not recognsze Maduro's past two election victories, accuses him of leading a cocaine trafficking gang called Cartel de los Soles. The White House said on Tuesday that Trump would use "every element" to stop drug trafficking, when asked about the possibility of US boots on the ground in Venezuela. "President Trump has been very clear and consistent, he's prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. Leavitt described the Venezuelan government as a "narco-terror cartel." "And Maduro, it is the view of this administration, is not a legitimate president, he is a fugitive head of this cartel who has been indicted in the United States for trafficking drugs into this country," she added. Maduro said on Monday that he would be deploying 4.5 million militia members across Venezuela in response to US "threats." --AFP
The Sun
19 minutes ago
- The Sun
US deploys warships near Venezuela to combat drug trafficking
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump is deploying three warships off the coast of Venezuela as part of efforts to curb drug trafficking, a source familiar with the move said Wednesday. The deployment comes as the Trump administration steps up pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, doubling its bounty to $50 million earlier this month on drug charges against the leftist strongman. The three Aegis-class guided missile destroyers are heading to the waters off Venezuela, the US source told AFP on condition of anonymity. US media reported that Washington was also planning to send 4,000 Marines to the region. Washington, which does not recognize Maduro's past two election victories, accuses him of leading the Cartel de los Soles ('Cartel of the Suns') cocaine trafficking gang. The Treasury Department gave the group a special terrorist designation last month, accusing it of supporting the Tren de Aragua and Sinaloa drug cartels, which were labeled foreign terrorist organizations earlier this year. The White House said on Tuesday that Trump would use 'every element' to stop drug trafficking, when asked about the possibility of US boots on the ground in Venezuela. 'President Trump has been very clear and consistent, he's prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice,' Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. Leavitt described the Venezuelan government as a 'narco-terror cartel.' 'And Maduro, it is the view of this administration, is not a legitimate president, he is a fugitive head of this cartel who has been indicted in the United States for trafficking drugs into this country,' she added. Maduro said on Monday that he would be deploying 4.5 million militia members across Venezuela in response to US 'threats.' - AFP
Straits Times
19 minutes ago
- Straits Times
US orders amphibious squadron to deploy to southern Caribbean -sources
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox WASHINGTON - The United States has ordered an amphibious squadron to the southern Caribbean as part of President Donald Trump's effort to address threats from Latin American drug cartels, two sources briefed on the deployment said on Wednesday. The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the USS San Antonio, USS Iowa Jima and USS Fort Lauderdale could arrive off the coast of Venezuela as early as Sunday. The ships are carrying 4,500 service members, including 2,200 Marines, the sources said. The sources declined to detail the specific mission of the squadron. But they have said that recent deployments are aimed at addressing threats to U.S. national security from specially designated "narco-terrorist organizations" in the region. Trump has made cracking down on drug cartels a central goal of his administration, part of a wider effort to limit migration and secure the U.S. southern border. The Trump administration designated Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel and other drug gangs as well as Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua as global terrorist organizations in February, as Trump stepped up immigration enforcement against alleged gang members. REUTERS
