US Warship Boards Venezuelan Fishing Boat, Heightening Tensions
Caracas, Venezuela – Venezuelan authorities reported that a US warship boarded a local tuna boat with nine fishermen aboard while it was operating in Venezuelan waters. This incident was highlighted by the Venezuelan foreign minister as a point of ongoing tension between the two nations.
The White House has yet to respond to requests for comments regarding the situation.
Relations have soured recently, especially after President Donald Trump sent warships to the Caribbean, claiming it was part of his efforts against drug cartels in Latin America.
During a press conference on Saturday, Foreign Minister Ivan Gill accused the US Navy of acting “illegally and hostilely” when they boarded the fishing vessel. The fishermen were later escorted back by the Venezuelan Navy.
According to Gill, the fishing boat had obtained prior approval from the Fisheries Ministry to carry out its work. He even presented a video of the boarding during the press event.
“Those who command such provocations are looking for reasons to escalate military actions in the Caribbean,” he stated, adding that it exemplifies the ongoing failures of the Venezuelan government’s policies.
Gill described the US actions as fundamentally “illegal,” warning that Venezuela would defend its sovereignty against these provocations.
This statement from the foreign minister came just days after Trump claimed that a US operation resulted in the sinking of a vessel laden with drugs, leading to the deaths of 11 individuals onboard. Trump asserted the ship had links to the Tren de Aragua gang but provided no evidence to back his claims.
The Venezuelan government has accused the US of conducting extrajudicial killings. Diosdado Cabello, the country’s home minister, referred to the US government’s narrative as a “tremendous lie,” indicating that investigations suggested the case might be unrelated to drug trafficking.
In response to the rising tensions, the Trump administration has intensified accusations against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, alleging he leads a cartel responsible for flooding the US with drugs and increasing the bounty on his capture from $25 million to $50 million.
While there are currently over 4,000 US troops deployed in the region, there’s been no indication that ground invasions are planned. Nevertheless, the Venezuelan government has called upon its citizens to volunteer as armed supporters of security forces in anticipation of a possible invasion. On Saturday, they encouraged citizens to report to military barracks for training.
