Top U.S. General Visits Caribbean Amid Venezuela Tensions/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ General Dan Caine visited U.S. forces in the Caribbean amid growing military activity and pressure on Venezuela. President Trump is weighing military options against Nicolás Maduro’s regime, including labeling a cartel as a terrorist group. The U.S. has ramped up naval operations, linking them to alleged drug trafficking threats.
U.S. Military Buildup in Caribbean Quick Looks
- Gen. Dan Caine visits troops in Puerto Rico and Navy warship
- U.S. intensifies anti-drug maritime operations in Caribbean
- Over 80 people killed in strikes on 21 alleged drug boats
- Trump considers military action against Venezuela
- Cartel de los Soles designated a foreign terrorist organization
- Designation provides new legal tools for targeting Maduro
- USS Gerald R. Ford among advanced warships deployed
- Defense Secretary Hegseth calls Marines frontline defenders
Trump Targets Venezuela as Military Presence Expands
Deep Look
As tensions rise in the Caribbean, the United States’ top military officer, General Dan Caine, paid a visit Monday to American troops stationed in Puerto Rico and aboard a Navy warship in the region. The visit underscores an intensified U.S. military presence that includes advanced naval assets and targeted operations against suspected drug-smuggling activities—measures widely interpreted as part of a broader pressure campaign on the Venezuelan government led by President Nicolás Maduro.
General Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the principal military adviser to President Donald Trump, was joined by senior enlisted adviser David L. Isom during the tour. According to a statement from Caine’s office, the trip aimed to “engage with service members and thank them for their outstanding support to regional missions.”
This marks Caine’s second visit to the area since the U.S. military began a notable buildup in the region, which includes the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford, the country’s most advanced aircraft carrier. The growing naval presence began in September when ships carrying hundreds of U.S. Marines docked in Puerto Rico for what was officially described as a large-scale training exercise. During that visit, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the deployment a vital part of “defending the American homeland.”
Now, the military activity appears to be expanding beyond training. U.S. forces have reportedly launched strikes on at least 21 vessels suspected of drug trafficking, resulting in over 80 deaths. While these missions have been presented as part of America’s ongoing fight against narcotics, analysts say they also serve a dual purpose—pressuring Venezuela’s leadership, particularly Maduro, to step down.
President Trump has not ruled out the possibility of direct military intervention in Venezuela, and the escalation in naval operations reflects increasing willingness to exert forceful leverage in the region.
As part of its efforts to broaden legal tools for combating Maduro’s influence, the Trump administration recently designated the Cartel de los Soles—a Venezuelan group allegedly linked to Maduro’s inner circle—as a foreign terrorist organization. Although the term “cartel” may not fully apply in the traditional sense, the label aligns the group with internationally recognized terrorist entities, placing it alongside groups like al-Qaida and ISIS.
The designation marks a significant policy shift. Historically, foreign terrorist designations were reserved for organizations using violence to achieve political ends. However, the Trump administration expanded this definition in February, applying it to eight Latin American criminal organizations involved in narcotics, human smuggling, and other illicit activity.
While U.S. officials claim these designated groups operate the boats targeted in naval strikes, little public evidence has been offered to confirm their affiliations or operational ties.
Defense Secretary Hegseth, speaking recently to conservative outlet OAN, stated that labeling Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist organization “provides a whole bunch of new options to the United States” in dealing with Maduro. However, he declined to detail what those options might include or confirm whether airstrikes or other military actions inside Venezuela are being considered.
“So nothing is off the table, but nothing’s automatically on the table,” Hegseth said, signaling that the Trump administration remains open to escalation, depending on how the situation develops.
The military and diplomatic moves come at a critical time for the region, as Venezuela continues to struggle under economic instability, political division, and international sanctions. For President Trump, increasing pressure on Maduro also plays into a broader domestic narrative focused on national security, drug enforcement, and foreign policy strength.
Whether the current trajectory leads to direct conflict remains uncertain. However, the growing presence of U.S. forces and the assertive rhetoric from top defense officials suggest that Washington is preparing for multiple contingencies—military, diplomatic, and legal—as it seeks to reshape its posture toward the Maduro regime.
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