US-Venezuela conflict: Americans block region’s skies, and Maduro asks Putin for military assistance
Фото: REUTERS
The United States has significantly increased its naval presence in the Caribbean, deploying the USS Iwo Jima and USS Gravely close to the coast of Venezuela. Satellite imagery confirms that the ships are within striking distance of key military facilities in the country.
This is reported by Newsweek .
Images taken by the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-2 satellite on October 30 show the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima and the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer moving west after being spotted off the coast of Grenada. The ships are now about 200 kilometers from the island of La Orcilla in Venezuela, home to one of the country’s key air bases and radar facilities.
The deployment follows recent US airstrikes on vessels Washington says are linked to drug trafficking and Caracas. The Trump administration says the campaign is aimed at dismantling drug trafficking networks in Latin America.
At the center of this deployment is the USS Iwo Jima, carrying more than 1,600 Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Group. Along with the amphibious transport ships USS San Antonio and USS Fort Lauderdale, the group is equipped with modern aircraft, including AV-8B Harrier attack aircraft, AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters, and MV-22 Osprey multirole tiltrotor aircraft. These assets allow for amphibious operations, precision strikes, and rapid response operations throughout the Caribbean region.
The destroyer USS Gravely recently completed a four-day visit to Trinidad and Tobago, during which U.S. Marines conducted joint exercises with local defense forces. Venezuela called the destroyer’s presence an act of aggression, while U.S. officials insisted the visit was part of regional counternarcotics cooperation.
Overall , the U.S. military has deployed more than ten thousand troops to the Caribbean region . Carrier Wing Number Eight aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford provides strike, reconnaissance, and support aircraft for precision and combat operations. In addition to the amphibious assault groups, the fleet includes six Arleigh Burke-class destroyers armed with Tomahawk missiles, the attack submarine USS Newport News, Coast Guard cutters, and logistics vessels.
Meanwhile, according to The Washington Post , Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is turning to Russia, China and Iran for help in bolstering his worn-out military capabilities. According to internal U.S. government documents, Maduro is requesting defensive radars, aircraft repairs and potentially missiles.
The requests to Moscow came in the form of a letter addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, which was scheduled to be delivered during a visit by a senior aide to the Russian capital this month. In the letter, Maduro asked for help in strengthening the country’s air defenses, including the restoration of several Russian Sukhoi Su-20MK2 fighter jets previously purchased by Venezuela. He also asked for help in overhauling eight engines and five radars in Russia.
Journalists note that Maduro also drafted a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping requesting expanded military cooperation between the two countries to counter the escalation between the United States and Venezuela. In the letter, Maduro asked the Chinese government to accelerate the production of radar detection systems by Chinese companies.
Transportation Minister Ramon Celestino Velasquez also recently coordinated the supply of military equipment and drones from Iran while planning a visit to the country. According to the documents, he told an Iranian official that Venezuela needed passive detection equipment, GPS jamming systems and drones with a range of 1,000 kilometers.
Caracas has condemned the buildup of the US military presence as a direct provocation and accused the US of organizing sabotage against Maduro. Russia remains the Venezuelan leader’s main support, but analysts say Moscow’s ability and interest in supporting Maduro may be diminished compared to previous years.
A Russian Ilyushin Il-76, one of several Russian aircraft under U.S. sanctions since 2023 for its involvement in arms trafficking and the transportation of mercenaries, arrived in Caracas on Sunday after taking a detour through Africa to avoid Western airspace.
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States has almost completely stopped the flow of drugs by sea and will now stop the flow of drugs by land. Florida Senator Rick Scott said that if he were Maduro, he would go to Russia or China right now.
Recall that the administration of US President Donald Trump has identified military facilities in Venezuela that, according to it, are used for drug smuggling, and is considering options for air strikes on them .
Earlier, United States President Donald Trump announced his intention to launch a ground operation by the US military in Venezuela . The main goal, he said, is to combat drug trafficking, which, despite the reduction in maritime supplies, remains a significant problem for the United States.
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