U.S. Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group. Reuters Yonhap News

The United States, under the Donald Trump administration, is intensifying its military presence in the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, citing a "war on drug trafficking," and conducting night flight operations with its carrier strike groups, escalating military tensions.

The U.S. Navy stated on its X (formerly Twitter) account on the 26th (local time), along with videos of fighter jets launching from an aircraft carrier, "The U.S. Navy and its aircraft carriers are the United States' expeditionary force, ready to deliver lethal strikes anywhere around the world, at any time."

The previous day, the Navy announced on its social media accounts, including X and Facebook, that naval forces centered around the world's largest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Gerald R. Ford, had conducted night flight operations in the Caribbean region.

The U.S. Navy posted photos of night flight operations on carrier decks, stating, "The U.S. military has been deployed to the Caribbean to support the U.S. Southern Command's mission, operations directed by the Department of Defense, and the President's priority to interdict illegal drug trafficking and defend the homeland."

Following the U.S. military's direct attacks on multiple vessels identified as "drug-carrying vessels," resulting in the deaths of about 80 people, and the subsequent reinforcement of its forces with additional carrier strike group deployments and night flight drills, concerns are rising that a direct attack on mainland Venezuela may be imminent.

The U.S. Department of State had previously advised U.S. citizens in Venezuela to depart immediately.

U.S. Navy aircraft carrier night flight training SNS post. Screenshot from U.S. Navy Facebook.

In conjunction with the strengthening of U.S. military forces in the Caribbean, U.S. military leadership has been engaging in a "building alliances" effort by holding successive meetings with leaders of pro-U.S. countries in the Caribbean region.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, met with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, the Public Information Office of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago announced via social media.

Pro-U.S. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago maintains a diplomatic stance that offers indirect support to the U.S.'s high-intensity pressure on Venezuela.

The distance between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela is as short as approximately 11 kilometers at its closest coastal point.

Acting Secretary of Defense for the U.S. Department of Defense, Christopher Miller, was scheduled to visit the Dominican Republic on the 26th and pay a courtesy call to President Luis Abinader in Santo Domingo, the U.S. Department of Defense had previously announced.

The movements of Secretary Miller and Chairman Milley come at a time when President Trump is considering military action against Venezuela.

The Associated Press reported that a series of measures, including the reinforcement of forces in the Caribbean and the movements of military leaders, are seen as pressure tactics aimed at ousting President Maduro.

Yonhap News