A U.S. guided-missile cruiser, the USS Lake Erie, was observed making its way through the Panama Canal on Friday night, transitioning from the Pacific to the Caribbean. This move comes shortly after the Trump administration deployed warships near the coast of Venezuela. AFP journalists captured the moment the naval vessel passed through one of the canal's locks around 9:30 PM, heading east towards the Atlantic Ocean.
The United States has claimed that the deployment of warships to the southern Caribbean, near Venezuela's territorial waters, is part of an anti-drug trafficking operation. Alfredo Cedeno, a 32-year-old health technician who witnessed the cruiser, expressed his surprise, stating, "I didn't know the ship was going to pass... I was surprised." Prior to this transit, the USS Lake Erie had been moored at the Port of Rodman, located at the canal's Pacific entrance, for two days.
Washington has accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of leading a drug cartel, increasing the bounty on his head to an unprecedented $50 million. Despite these strong allegations and military posturing, the U.S. has refrained from making any public threats regarding an invasion of Venezuela. In response to the increasing tensions, Caracas announced its decision to deploy 15,000 security forces to the Colombian border as part of its own anti-drug trafficking operations.
In a bid to bolster its defense, Venezuela has declared its intention to patrol its territorial waters using drones and navy ships. Maduro also claimed to have mobilized over four million militia members in response to what he described as "outlandish threats" from the U.S. This mobilization has seen thousands of civil servants, housewives, and retirees lining up in Venezuela's capital to join the militia.
Since taking office, President Trump's administration has focused its attacks on Venezuela primarily on its powerful gangs, some of which are known to operate within the United States. However, the policy of maximum pressure, including an ongoing oil embargo, has not succeeded in displacing Maduro from power. Last year, the U.S. seized a plane belonging to Maduro, further escalating tensions.
On Thursday, Maduro asserted that there was no possibility of American troops invading Venezuela, especially after the recent deployment of U.S. warships. The USS Lake Erie, measuring 567 feet in length and displacing 9,800 tons, is based in San Diego, California.
In a broader strategy, President Trump has instructed the Pentagon to utilize military force against Latin American drug cartels that are classified as terrorist organizations. While the specifics of any military action remain unclear, the implications are significant. Mexico has emphasized its stance against the presence of U.S. military forces on its territory, with President Claudia Sheinbaum firmly stating that there would be no invasion of Mexico.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration designated eight drug trafficking groups as terrorist organizations, six of which are based in Mexico, one in Venezuela, and another originating from El Salvador. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that these designations would aid in targeting these cartels more effectively, stating, "It allows us to now target what they're operating." He emphasized the need to treat these groups as armed terrorist organizations rather than merely drug-dealing entities.
