It’s been a while since I did an update on America’s fentanyl crisis.
Today’s update is a big one.
The U.S. is deploying three Aegis guided-missile destroyers (USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, and USS Sampson) to waters off the coast of Venezuela. They are expected to arrive within the next 36 hours as part of a major counter-narcotics operation targeting Latin American drug cartels, specifically those involved in transporting fentanyl and cocaine.
A separate U.S. official told Reuters that in total, about 4,000 sailors and Marines are expected to be committed to the Trump administration’s efforts in the southern Caribbean region.That U.S. official, who was speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the additional commitment of military assets in the broader region would include several P-8 spy planes, warships and at least one attack submarine.The official said the process would be ongoing for several months and the plan was for them to operate in international airspace and international waters.The naval assets can be used to not just carry out intelligence and surveillance operations, but also as a launching pad for targeted strikes if a decision is made, the official added.
In a statement on the deployment, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called out the Maduro regime as a “Nacro terror cartel.” Additionally, it appears that those ships are preparing to stay for several months.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to a question about the reported deployment during Tuesday’s press briefing, saying, in part, “The president is prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice. The Maduro regime is not the legitimate government—it is a Nacro terror cartel.”A separate Defense Department official confirmed that the U.S. Navy 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.”
Maduro, who was indicted in a federal court on charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine, threatened to call up the Venezuelan militia.
On Monday, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said the U.S. had increased its threats against Venezuela and announced he was going to order the deployment of more than 4.5 million militia members around the country. The militias were created by then-President Hugo Chávez to incorporate volunteers who could assist the armed forces in the defense of external and 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 mentioning any specific action.Earlier this month, the Trump government announced it was doubling to $50 million a reward for the arrest of Maduro, accusing him of being one of the world’s largest narco-traffickers and working with cartels to flood the U.S. with fentanyl-laced cocaine.Maduro was indicted in a New York federal court in 2020, during the first Trump presidency, along with several close allies on federal charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine. Back then, the U.S. offered a $15 million reward for his arrest.
As a reminder, Maduro had threatened neighboring Guyana with his militia to confiscate that nation’s oil fields in 2023. Not only did Guyana retain its oil fields, but its oil sector has rapidly expanded in this, with ExxonMobil and partners recently bringing the Yellowtail project online.
ExxonMobil Guyana started production today at Yellowtail, the fourth oil development in Guyana’s offshore Stabroek block. Yellowtail’s ONE GUYANA floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel joins the Destiny, Unity, and Prosperity FPSOs, bringing total installed capacity in Guyana to above 900,000 barrels of oil per day.“Yellowtail’s ahead-of-schedule startup is a significant milestone for ExxonMobil and the people of Guyana,” said Dan Ammann, president of ExxonMobil Upstream Company. “With Guyanese making up more than 67% of the country’s oil-and-gas workforce and over 2,000 local businesses engaged, this project reflects our deepening roots in the country and our shared commitment to long-term, inclusive growth.”
It looks like Guyana’s oil will be safe from Maduro’s militia for a bit longer, as it’s going to be very busy soon.
Godspeed to the crews of USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, and USS Sampson.
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