Venezuela has deployed troops and stockpiled arms in response to an increased U.S. naval presence in the Caribbean, framing the posture as 'prolonged resistance.' Sources and planning documents indicate small units are positioned at over 280 sites to undertake sabotage and guerrilla actions if needed. The U.S. has increased carrier, air and maritime activity in SOUTHCOM waters and carried out strikes on suspected drug vessels, while Russia says it stands ready to assist Caracas and urges restraint.
Venezuela Mobilises Troops and Arms in Response to U.S. Naval Buildup in the Caribbean
Venezuela has deployed troops and stockpiled arms in response to an increased U.S. naval presence in the Caribbean, framing the posture as 'prolonged resistance.' Sources and planning documents indicate small units are positioned at over 280 sites to undertake sabotage and guerrilla actions if needed. The U.S. has increased carrier, air and maritime activity in SOUTHCOM waters and carried out strikes on suspected drug vessels, while Russia says it stands ready to assist Caracas and urges restraint.
05:07 PM, 11/12/2025Conflict
Venezuela mobilises forces amid heightened U.S. naval activity
Venezuela has begun deploying military units and stockpiling weapons and equipment in response to a recent concentration of U.S. naval forces in the Caribbean, according to officials and operational planning documents reviewed by Reuters.
The Venezuelan government describes its posture as a policy of "prolonged resistance". Sources and several-year-old plans indicate that small units have been positioned at more than 280 locations and could undertake sabotage and other guerrilla-style actions if required.
'We don't discuss intelligence matters,' a War Department official told Fox News.
President Nicolás Maduro has accused the Trump administration of seeking to remove him from power and has vowed that Venezuelans will defend the country against perceived U.S. aggression.
U.S. actions in the region have included strikes on vessels suspected of carrying illegal drugs and a visible naval and air presence. President Donald Trump has publicly suggested the possibility of land operations, saying 'the land is going to be next.'
The U.S. Navy said the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group recently entered the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility to reinforce the growing presence in the Caribbean. Senior Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the enhanced force posture is intended to boost the U.S. capacity to detect, monitor and disrupt illicit actors and activities that threaten homeland safety and security across the Western Hemisphere.
Reports from Reuters note resource shortages in some Venezuelan units; commanders in certain areas have reportedly had to negotiate with local food producers to feed troops because government supplies fell short. That shortfall appears to be one reason Venezuelan defense planning emphasizes irregular, guerrilla-style tactics.
Russia's foreign ministry said it stands ready to respond to requests for assistance from Caracas while urging restraint to avoid further escalation. Fox News Digital and Reuters reached out to U.S. officials for comment.
What this means
The situation reflects rising tensions in the Caribbean between U.S. forces seeking to counter drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations and a Venezuelan government preparing asymmetric defenses. The combination of heightened U.S. naval activity, Venezuelan preparations for irregular warfare, and international diplomatic moves raises the risk of further escalation if diplomatic channels are not re-engaged.