Venezuela has commenced the 'Caribe Soberano 200' military exercises, a three-day operation that began on September 17, 2025, on La Orchila island. The drills involve approximately 2,500 personnel, supported by 22 aircraft and 12 naval vessels. Specialized units, including special forces, intelligence, and aerospace groups, are participating. The maneuvers will feature the deployment of underwater, aerial, and surveillance drones, along with electronic warfare capabilities, all aimed at enhancing operational readiness.
This significant military activity follows a period of escalating regional tensions, particularly between Venezuela and the United States. In late August 2025, President Nicolás Maduro oversaw military exercises in Caracas in response to the U.S. Navy's deployment of guided-missile destroyers and a nuclear attack submarine to the Caribbean. The U.S. stated its naval presence was to bolster the fight against narcotrafficking, but Venezuela views these actions as a provocative threat to its sovereignty.
Further exacerbating the situation, on September 2, 2025, U.S. forces conducted an aerial attack that resulted in the destruction of at least three boats allegedly transporting narcotics. President Donald Trump stated these boats were carrying cocaine and fentanyl. Venezuela has denounced these strikes, with its foreign minister characterizing them as "extrajudicial executions."
Adding to the friction, Venezuela reported that on September 12, 2025, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Jason Dunham boarded and detained a Venezuelan fishing vessel and its nine crew members for eight hours within Venezuela's Exclusive Economic Zone. Venezuela has condemned this incident as an "illegal interception" and a direct provocation. U.S. officials, however, claimed the search took place in international waters following a tip about drug trafficking, though no substances were found.
In response to these perceived aggressions, President Maduro has intensified efforts to foster unity and has issued warnings of an "armed struggle" should Venezuela face an attack from the "American empire." These developments underscore the increasingly volatile relationship between Venezuela and the United States in the Caribbean, with significant implications for regional security.