Donald Trump Deploys 3 Missile Destroyers: What to Know

Newsweek

8 hours ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The United States is deploying three Aegis guided-missile destroyers to waters off Venezuela as part of President Donald Trump's effort to counter Latin American drug cartels, according to a U.S. official briefed on the planning.
The USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, and USS Sampson are expected to arrive in the region soon, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity Tuesday because they were not authorized to comment.
A separate Defense Department official confirmed that the ships had been assigned to the mission in support of counternarcotics operations. That official, who also requested anonymity, said the vessels would be deployed "over the course of several months."
The deployment underscores Trump's push to use U.S. military power against cartels he blames for driving fentanyl and other illicit drugs into American communities, as well as for fueling violence in U.S. cities.
Trump has also pressed Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to take a tougher stance against cartels than her predecessor. But Sheinbaum has drawn a sharp boundary on Mexico's sovereignty, rejecting proposals from Trump and others that involve U.S. military intervention.
In February, Trump designated Venezuela's Tren de Aragua, El Salvador's MS-13, and six groups based in Mexico as foreign terrorist organizations. His administration has also intensified immigration enforcement against alleged gang members.
The foreign terrorist designation is traditionally reserved for organizations such as al-Qaida or the Islamic State, which use violence for political aims. The Trump administration argues, however, that the international operations of these groups — including drug trafficking, migrant smuggling, and violent campaigns to expand territory — justify the label.
Venezuela's Communication Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
On Monday, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said the United States had escalated its threats and pledged to mobilize more than 4.5 million militia members nationwide. The militias, created by former President Hugo Chávez, are composed of volunteers who can back the armed forces in defending against foreign or domestic attacks.
"The empire has gone mad and has renewed its threats to Venezuela's peace and tranquility," Maduro said at an event in Caracas, without naming specific U.S. actions.
Earlier this month, Trump's government doubled to $50 million the reward for Maduro's arrest, accusing him of acting as a major narco-trafficker and colluding with cartels to send fentanyl-laced cocaine into the U.S.
Maduro was indicted in New York federal court in 2020, during Trump's first term, on charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine, alongside several close allies. At that time, the U.S. offered a $15 million reward for his capture.
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.