Venezuela has sent 15,000 police and military personnel to its border with Colombia in response to the approach of US warships to the southern Caribbean, heightening tensions in the region.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced the deployment on Monday, stating that additional support will come from boats, aircraft, and drones. “The president has ordered this deployment to guarantee peace,” Cabello said at a press conference. “If they want to enter through the border, they won’t be able to.”
The US Navy is sending three warships, carrying over 4,000 sailors and Marines, as part of operations aimed at countering drug cartels. Reports indicate that the Trump administration has instructed the Defense Department to prepare for potential military operations, a move that has rattled Latin American leaders.
Cabello also called on neighboring Colombia to bolster its border security, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between the two countries. Last week, President Nicolas Maduro downplayed the US deployment but encouraged Venezuelans to join local militias. State media is now running ads promoting enlistment, signaling a continued focus on domestic mobilization.
