U.S. B-52 Bombers Conduct Operations Near Venezuela
On Wednesday, three B-52 bombers from the U.S. were reportedly seen flying for several hours close to Venezuela’s coastline, according to a report from ABC News. This activity was confirmed by U.S. officials who indicated that special operations aviation units had been engaged in training exercises in international waters near Venezuela earlier this month.
An anonymous spokesperson from the U.S. Global Strike Command acknowledged to CBS that the bombers were indeed near Venezuela. Tracking data from the aviation site Flightradar24 noted the aircraft circled about 240 miles north of the country.
This military maneuver comes amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela’s socialist government, largely tied to the presence of American forces in the Caribbean’s international waters. President Trump initiated these operations as part of ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking originating from Latin America, aiming to reduce the influx of narcotics into the United States.
Since September, there have been military operations resulting in the disruption of vessels transporting Venezuelan drugs, with reports of precision strikes leading to the destruction of some of these shipments. A U.S. official mentioned that there were survivors from a vessel hit on Thursday.
The Venezuelan government, led by Nicolas Maduro, has repeatedly accused the U.S. military of having ulterior motives, claiming their operations are a guise for an invasion to unseat him. In response, Maduro’s administration has lodged formal complaints to international bodies, asserting that these military actions threaten regional peace. Samuel Moncada, Venezuela’s ambassador to the UN, called for an investigation into a recent attack that he asserted had resulted in civilian casualties, framing those on board the targeted vessel as fishermen rather than traffickers.
U.S. authorities have long alleged that Maduro plays a central role in the Sunshine Cartel, an organization involved in large-scale cocaine trafficking, which is linked to various high-ranking officials in Venezuela’s military and government. The United States has offered a reward of $50 million for information that could lead to his arrest.
White House press secretary Caroline Levitt emphasized President Trump’s stance on Maduro, labeling him an illegitimate leader who has participated in drug trafficking for too long.
Recently, Trump revealed that he authorized CIA operations in Venezuela and hinted at the potential of a ground assault, though he withheld specific details. When questioned about the CIA’s possible objective to remove Maduro, Trump dismissed the inquiry as foolish. He indicated that while he doesn’t disclose full intentions, controlling maritime routes has been a priority, and there have been instances of reduced boat activity lately, which he interprets positively.
In a recent press conference, Trump mentioned the dual concerns motivating these operations: the influx of individuals entering the U.S. from Venezuela and the substantial volume of narcotics that flow via sea routes. He reiterated that efforts would also focus on land-based interventions.
