Venezuela has launched a countrywide military exercise reportedly involving about 200,000 troops, citing an increased U.S. military presence in the Caribbean. The move followed confirmation that the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford entered the U.S. Southern Command area; U.S. forces have also deployed F-35s to Puerto Rico. Venezuelan officials condemned recent U.S. strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels that have killed at least 76 people, and Colombia has suspended intelligence sharing with the United States in protest.
Venezuela Mobilises 200,000 Troops in Nationwide Drills as USS Gerald R. Ford Enters Caribbean
Venezuela has launched a countrywide military exercise reportedly involving about 200,000 troops, citing an increased U.S. military presence in the Caribbean. The move followed confirmation that the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford entered the U.S. Southern Command area; U.S. forces have also deployed F-35s to Puerto Rico. Venezuelan officials condemned recent U.S. strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels that have killed at least 76 people, and Colombia has suspended intelligence sharing with the United States in protest.
11:58 PM, 11/12/2025Security
Venezuela mobilises massive military exercise amid rising U.S. naval presence
Venezuela said on Tuesday it had launched a large-scale, nationwide military exercise that the Ministry of Defense says involves roughly 200,000 personnel and deployments of land, air and naval forces. Caracas framed the manoeuvres as a defensive response to an increased U.S. military presence in the region.
The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford has entered U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility, which covers the Caribbean and nearby waters. U.S. officials also say F-35 stealth fighters have been deployed to Puerto Rico and that several other U.S. Navy ships are operating in the Caribbean.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, speaking on state television and quoted by AFP, said about 200,000 troops were taking part in the drills. He sharply criticised recent U.S. strikes on boats suspected of drug trafficking, accusing U.S. forces of "murdering defenseless people, whether or not they are drug traffickers, executing them without due process."
Since September, U.S. forces have reportedly struck about 20 vessels in international waters as part of an anti-drug campaign. Those operations have killed at least 76 people, though some operational details remain unclear.
"If there is a U.S. military attack on Venezuela," Padrino warned, "foreign troops will find a community united to defend this nation, to the death."
Regional leaders and outside observers are alarmed by the rising tensions. Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered Bogotá to suspend intelligence sharing with the United States, saying the directive will "remain in force as long as the missile attacks on boats in the Caribbean continue." Petro has described the strikes as illegal and counterproductive, arguing that anti-drug efforts must respect human rights.
Former U.S. officials and commentators have speculated that increased U.S. military pressure could be intended to push President Nicolás Maduro from office — an interpretation Maduro and his government have echoed, while the U.S. has pointed to concerns about Maduro’s ties to armed criminal groups that traffic drugs.
Reports cited in this article include statements from the Venezuelan Ministry of Defense, AFP and U.S. Department of Defense confirmations; additional context was provided by regional statements and media reporting.