The Venezuelan government has leveled serious accusations against U.S. personnel, alleging that they boarded and occupied a civilian fishing boat on Friday. This incident marks yet another escalation in the ongoing tensions between the two nations, particularly as the U.S. ramps up its counter-narco-terror operations in the Caribbean region.
A U.S. official, speaking to ABC News, clarified that Coast Guard personnel stationed aboard the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Jason Dunham conducted a search of the fishing boat based on a tip regarding potential drug smuggling. However, the search yielded no contraband, thereby raising questions about the legitimacy of Venezuela's claims.
The office of Venezuela's Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Saturday, asserting that the U.S. Navy had deployed eighteen personnel armed with long-range weapons who boarded the Venezuelan fishing vessel within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The ministry criticized the operation as lacking "strategic proportionality," labeling it a "direct provocation" due to the alleged illegal use of excessive military force.
A U.S. official with knowledge of the incident corroborated that the USS Jason Dunham received intelligence prompting them to board the Venezuelan vessel to check for illicit drugs. The official confirmed that the law enforcement team aboard the destroyer conducted the search, which ultimately revealed no illegal substances. Additionally, the U.S. representative refuted claims from the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry, stating that the search did not take eight hours and that the fishing boat was actually located in international waters.
This incident comes on the heels of President Trump's announcement earlier this month, in which he revealed plans to increase military presence in the Caribbean to combat illegal drug trafficking. On September 2, Trump disclosed that a strike had been ordered against an alleged drug boat linked to South American origins, specifically targeting the notorious Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists. The president claimed that the operation resulted in the deaths of eleven alleged terrorists, further intensifying the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and various narcotics-related entities in the region.
The accusations from Venezuela against the U.S. highlight the fragile state of relations between the two countries, particularly in light of military operations aimed at curbing drug smuggling. As both nations continue to navigate these turbulent waters, the potential for further confrontations remains high.
