Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro is accusing the United States of trying to oust him from power after President Donald Trump ordered a major military deployment to the Southern Caribbean aimed at dismantling violent drug cartels.
In remarks to reporters Monday, Maduro declared the U.S. operation the “biggest threat that has been seen on our continent in the last 100 years.” He claimed the buildup was a cover for “seeking a regime change through military threat,” but insisted Venezuela was “super prepared” to defend itself.
The accusations come after Trump authorized a new operation targeting what the administration called “narco-terrorist organizations” operating across Latin America. That effort includes guided-missile destroyers and 4,000 American troops stationed near Venezuelan waters — a clear signal of Trump’s escalating crackdown on transnational crime.
Trump Cracks Down on Narco-Terrorism
The move is part of President Trump’s broader war on fentanyl and cartel violence, which he has labeled an “existential threat” to American security. Last month, Trump directed the Pentagon to begin large-scale interdiction efforts off the coast of Venezuela, citing intelligence linking the Maduro regime to major drug-trafficking operations.
The Trump administration has also dramatically raised the bounty on Maduro to $50 million, placing him in the same category as the world’s most-wanted terrorists. Two of Venezuela’s most dangerous groups — the Cartel de los Soles and Tren de Aragua — have officially been designated foreign terrorist organizations by the State Department.
Trump has made it clear that halting the flow of fentanyl and dismantling cartel networks are top priorities of his second term. In his March address to Congress, the president declared, “The cartels are waging war on America, and it’s time for America to wage war on the cartels.”
Backlash from Socialist Allies
Maduro’s government, which has clung to power after widely disputed elections in 2024, reacted furiously to the U.S. deployment. After announcing a landslide “victory,” Maduro forced opposition leader Edmundo González into exile — a move condemned by the U.S. and most Western governments, who now recognize González as Venezuela’s legitimate leader.
Maduro is now painting the U.S. military presence as a prelude to invasion. “A situation like this has never been seen,” he warned. His regime remains heavily reliant on support from Cuba, Iran, and China.
Meanwhile, Mexico — another key player in the regional drug war — has refused to allow any U.S. military presence within its borders. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reaffirmed that stance last month: “That is ruled out, absolutely ruled out. It is not part of any agreement, far from it.”
High-Profile Extraditions and Ongoing Cases
The Trump administration has found success targeting cartel leadership through extraditions. Just last week, El Mayo — a founding member of the Sinaloa cartel — pled guilty to federal racketeering charges on U.S. soil after being extradited from Mexico.
Attorney General Pam Bondi celebrated the victory, stating, “El Mayo will die in a U.S. federal prison where he belongs. His guilty plea brings us one step closer to eliminating the drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations flooding our country with narcotics, traffickers, and violence.”
With Maduro lashing out and U.S. forces now positioned off Venezuela’s coast, the Southern Caribbean has become the latest flashpoint in Trump’s global effort to destroy the cartels and restore American security.
The post Maduro Accuses U.S. Of ‘Seeking A Regime Change’ After Trump Deploys Military To South Caribbean appeared first on Real News Now.
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