The United States is amassing an unprecedented number of warships, fighter jets, and reconnaissance aircraft off the coast of Venezuela as the Trump administration expands its military campaign against what it calls "transnational criminal organisations," the Washington Post has reported. On Friday, the Pentagon said the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its accompanying warships were heading to the region, a significant expansion of the US military presence there. The deployment adds to the warships and a Marine expeditionary unit already in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, alongside drones, fighter jets, and surveillance aircraft. On Sunday, the guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely docked in Trinidad and Tobago's capital, Port of Spain, for joint manoeuvres, a move Venezuela's government on Monday decried as a "military provocation." Since early September, US forces have targeted at least 10 vessels in the region, resulting in the deaths of at least 43 people whom the administration accused of smuggling drugs to the United States. The administration has declined to provide evidence, drawing criticism from some members of Congress. "So far, they have claimed these people are drug dealers, but no one has named them, what the evidence is against them, whether they were armed, and no evidence has been provided so far," Republican Senator Rand Paul said in an interview with Fox News on Sunday. Several of the strikes have targeted vessels on a route commonly used for smuggling marijuana and cocaine to Europe and West Africa. But Senator Paul said that drug trafficking crimes "are usually handled through law enforcement agencies, not through the military." "So, I can describe what is happening at this stage as extrajudicial killings," he added. Continued escalation The Trump administration appears set on expanding its military campaign. After several strikes off the Caribbean coast of South America, US forces on Tuesday launched new attacks targeting vessels off the Pacific coast. "The next stage will be on land," Trump said on Wednesday. "They will now enter by land because they are no longer coming by sea," Trump told reporters. "And we will hit them with great force when they enter by land. They haven't experienced that yet, but we are fully ready now." Trump has accused his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolás Maduro, of smuggling drugs into the US in concert with the Tren de Aragua gang, and has stated he has authorised the CIA to conduct operations inside Venezuela. He has offered no evidence to support the accusations. Maduro has criticised the US naval movements, describing them as an attempt by the American government to "provoke a new endless war" against his country. Amid the rising tensions, Maduro issued a plea in English, calling on the United States to avoid the "madness of war." "Yes to peace forever," Maduro said during a meeting with pro-government unions. "No to crazy war, please!" The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, typically carries dozens of fighter jets and helicopters and more than 4,000 sailors. Its deployment significantly increases the offensive, defensive, and surveillance capabilities in the area. It is unclear which of its escort ships will continue with it to the Caribbean. The US Navy and Marine Corps have also deployed a task force off the coast of Venezuela, comprising more than 4,500 sailors and Marines, which includes guided-missile destroyers, an attack submarine, a special operations vessel, and reconnaissance aircraft.
