Overview
- USS Gravely docked in Port of Spain for joint training through Thursday, drawing a protest from Caracas that called the drills a hostile provocation.
- The Pentagon has redirected the USS Gerald R. Ford strike group toward the Caribbean as part of a widened counter-narcotics campaign.
- Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said land strikes are a real possibility and that President Trump plans to brief lawmakers on potential operations after his Asia trip.
- The administration cites roughly 10 boat strikes since September with at least 43 deaths, while critics including Sen. Ruben Gallego label the actions extrajudicial killings and demand oversight.
- Anonymously sourced reporting says a U.S. official acknowledged many targeted boats could not reach U.S. waters and that intelligence tying Venezuela to fentanyl production is limited.