By Robert BirselShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe top U.S. military officer, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, has visited troops in Puerto Rico, where the United States has built up a formidable force as it seeks to put pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Newsweek reached out to the government of Venezuela by email for comment.
Why It Matters
The U.S. has deployed the world's largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean, along with other warships, thousands of personnel and stealth aircraft. The deployment comes amid a nearly three-month campaign targeting what the Trump administration says are drug-smuggling vessels linked to Venezuela. According to the administration, at least 83 people have been killed since early September.
The military buildup—which includes at least five F-35B fighter jets, helicopters and V-22 Osprey multirole combat aircraft—and the campaign against the suspected drug boats are seen as a way to pressure Maduro, whom the U.S. has accused of heading a drug cartel, which he denies.
Venezuela sees the looming military presence coupled with economic pressures as a U.S. attempt to oust Maduro. The U.S. does not recognize the authoritarian socialist leader as the winner of the country's 2024 elections.
...What to Know
Before his visit, Caine’s office said in a statement that he would "engage with service members and thank them for their outstanding support to regional missions," according to The Associated Press.
Caine, President Donald Trump’s primary military adviser, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Puerto Rico in September after ships carrying hundreds of U.S. Marines arrived for what officials said at the time was a training exercise. Hegseth said then that the Marines were "on the front lines of defending the American homeland."
Caine’s visit is likely to increase speculation that the U.S. is about to launch military action against Venezuela.
Trump said on November 17 that he has not ruled out putting U.S. forces on the ground in Venezuela, while adding he would be willing to talk to Maduro. The Venezuelan leader responded by saying differences should be worked out through diplomacy and that he is willing to hold face-to-face talks with anyone.
The United States on November 16 designated Venezuela's Cartel de los Soles criminal network a "foreign terrorist organization," saying it is linked to Maduro and senior military officials. Maduro denies that.
Hegseth said the designation will bring "a whole bunch of new options" on how the U.S. deals with "narco-terrorists" in the region.
On Monday, Republican U.S. Representative Maria Salazar fanned speculation of an imminent U.S. assault, telling Fox Business that Maduro understands "that we’re about to go in."
According to Salazar, the new designation for Cartel de los Soles puts Maduro "right in the crosshairs."
"We can take him out, we can extradite him, or we can go in and try and finish his regime," Salazar said.
The State Department said Cartel de los Soles is "responsible for terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe."
...What People Are Saying
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said on November 17 in weekly televised comments: "In the United States, whoever wants to talk with Venezuela will talk, face to face, without any problem."
What Happens Next
With the designation of Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization, in effect, the U.S. may expand sanctions enforcement, target financial and logistical networks, and increase diplomatic and intelligence activities to increase pressure on Venezuela.
This article uses reporting by The Associated Press
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